Channel 18: Soccer Signings
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.
Reilly Springs Jamboree Remains Postponed in June
The Reilly Springs Jamboree continues to be postponed on a month-by-month basis due to COVOD-19 concerns. Thus. there will be no Reilly Springs Jamboree in June 2020. It is hoped that the shows can resume in the very near future, hopefully in July. Enola Gay Mathews, Mike Shing and the Running Creek Band are anxious to safely see you in attendance. Til then, please stay safe and stay well. Jamboree fans, please check Facebook and our website for news of the next show. Traditionally, the country music stage show is held on the third-Saturday night at 6pm inside the Reilly Springs Community Center, 109 CR 1439 in southeastern Hopkins County.
Investigation At A Sulphur Springs Motel Results In 3 Controlled Substance Arrests
An investigation at a Sulphur Springs motel resulted in three controlled substance arrests Thursday afternoon, according to arrest reports.
While at an Industrial Drive motel following up on theft and narcotics reports, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Cpl. Todd Evans and Deputy Jason Lavender contacted the occupants of one of the rooms. Their request to search it was denied, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Deputies then sought, obtained and executed a search warrant for the room. The officers alleged finding 0.67 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
Consequently, 20-year-old Daniel Keith Alsobrook, 18-year-old Whitney Renee Armstrong and 18-year-old Andrew Michael Magnuson, all of Sulphur Springs, were arrested at 2:53 p.m. June 11, for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
All three remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, June 12, 2020, on the felony controlled substance charge. Bond was set at $5,000 each, according to jail reports.
The arrest marks the second time in less than a month and third time in less than a year that Alsbrook has been jailed locally, according to jail records. He was also arrested May 28 on a traffic warrant. He also was jailed Sept. 24, 2019, for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, surety off bond on a theft charge and on three traffic warrants, according to arrest reports.
(HCSO jail photos)
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.
Woman Allegedly Driving While Intoxicated With Her Grandchild In Car When It Crashed
A 47-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was allegedly driving intoxicated with her grandchild in the car. The vehicle crashed Thursday evening, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County, Cumby and Miller Grove firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers responded at 8:17 p.m. June 11, 2020 to a single vehicle rollover crash on FM 275 south in which the occupants were reported to still be in the vehicle, but did not appear to be trapped, according to sheriff’s reports.
Caran Sue Ivery was identified as the driver of the wrecked Honda Accord. Her 11-year-old grandson was a front seat passenger in the car, according to arrest reports.
Based on the crash investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde said the driver apparently failed to negotiate a slight curve in the road, entered a bar ditch, then, traveled in the bar ditch for about 150 feet before resting against an embankment. There was no evidence that the driver attempted to brake or take corrective action, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports.
Ivery allegedly displayed indicators of intoxication during a roadside interview and did not know where she was; she reportedly told officials she was traveling on State Highway 154 even though she was on FM 275, south of FM 1567. The woman’s speech was slurred and she was incoherent, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports. The woman’s eyes were droopy and she had trouble keeping her eyes open. She allegedly admitted to ingesting Alprazolam and hydrocodone-acetaminophen earlier in the day.
The trooper attempted to administer standard field sobriety tests, but reported the woman was unable to comprehend simple instructions. She displayed two clues of intoxication during horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, before falling asleep multiple times, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports. The trooper did not administer the walk and turn and one-legged stand tests out of fear for the woman’s safety due to the her extreme lack of balance.
Ivery was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated due to ingestion of prescribed medication. The DWI charge was enhanced because she had a child passenger under age 15 in the car, her 11-year-old grandson.
The woman allegedly agreed to a blood test. The sample was taken at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, where the woman had to be wheeled in a wheelchair through the hospital due to her inability to balance and walk safely, Ugalde alleged in arrest reports.
Ivery remained in jail at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Friday morning, June 12, 2020, on the felony charge of driving intoxicated with her grandchild who was under 15 years of age in the car.
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.
No Problems at North Hopkins Water Supply Corp.
Per request from the North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, customers should know that there is no water problem which needs correction. Apparently, a flyer is being circulated by mail regarding necessary water testing. The company which sent out the flyer is not associated with the North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation in any way. Customers may disregard the flyer, and feel confident that at any time water problems may arise, they will be contacted by the North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation.
SSISD Trustees Approved 13 Personnel Recommendations
Contract Release Date For Resignation Notifications Announced
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved 13 personnel recommendations and recognized one of their own. The contract release date for employees was also noted during the regular June school board meeting.
The June session, like many things this year, was a little bit different in observance of COVID-19 social distancing guidelines for indoor group gatherings. The school trustees are typically seated side-by-side at the board table at the front of the meeting room in the Administration Building. School administrators then sit beside one another in a line of tables put together longways, facing the community seats.
However, on Monday, everyone spread further apart, with three board members sitting with at least one chair space between them at the school board table, with additional board members and staff each assigned to their own individual tables, spaced several feet apart in a U-shape facing the board table. Several guest seats have also been removed to establish social distancing in the middle of the square for guests and community members.
Recognition of Service
After honoring Lamar Elementary Principal Rowena Johnson for 50 years of service to SSISD and wishing her well in her retirement, Superintendent Mike Lamb presented trustee Robbin Vaughn with a plaque of appreciation. Vaughn, like Leesa Toliver before her, served 2 consecutive terms on the school board as president.
Lamb offered thanks to Vaughn for supporting him and being an “amazing president, amazing friend and amazing board member.”
Contract Release Date
Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden announced Monday, July 6, as the 45-day contract release date, the date after which which school districts are not required to release staff from their contracts.
Trustee John Prickette asked if the date was a state-wide requirement.
Lamb explained that it was, but the deadline could be a different date, as schools begin and end on different dates.
Harden explained that the release day is simply 45 days before the first day of instruction.
Personnel Recommendations
Trustees also, following an executive session Monday night, approved 13 personnel recommendations, including 1 retirement, 2 resignations, 3 summer contracts, 6 new personnel and one campus transfer.
Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden notified administrators of his planned retirement from SSISD.
Resignations were accepted from Middle School English teacher Jacie Reger and Sulphur Springs High School science teacher Amanda Clark. Rhonda Caldwell was approved to join the SSHS faculty as an English teacher.
Approved to join the staff at Barbara Bush Primary as recommended by administrators were Rocio Diaz as a kindergarten English language arts and reading teacher, Cassity Egan as a special education aide, Miranda Jones as a special education teacher and Guadalupe Mejia as a third grade ELAR teacher.
Trustees also approved Natalie White to join the Sulphur Springs Elementary faculty as a fifth grade ELAR and social studies teacher.
Summer contracts due to mid-term hire dates were approved for Travis Primary second grade teacher Sofia Sosa, SSHS English teacher Ashley Hall and SSHS Spanish teacher Carlos Ramirez.
Physical education teacher Sara Price will be swapping campuses, moving from SSMS to SSES.
SSISD High School and Middle School Cross Country Athletes Attend The Edge at Prim Stadium
Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks is offering The Edge conditioning program Monday through Thursday from 7:15 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium. The program began Monday (June 8). Coach Hicks said some 30 to 40 high school runners and 15-20 middle school athletes attended daily during this week. He said the athletes showed up with great attitudes ready to run. Coach Hicks said he and his assistant coach Bryan Jones were taking each athletes’ temperature and were stressing distancing. In addition to running, Coach Hicks said the athletes were running the stands at The Prim and were also weight lifting some two days a week. He said the runners were enjoying going around Peavine Pinion Pond and crossing into Coleman Park. He said they would probably run other routes as the program progresses this summer.
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 Soccer Earns Two Superlatives and Has 16 Players Named to All-District Team
The Wildcats Soccer Team was very well represented this past season on the All-District Soccer Team in District 15-5A. 16 Wildcats made the team and that included two superlatives. Senior goalkeeper Noe Ponce was selected the district’s Keeper of the Year and senior midfielder Kevin Yanez was chosen Offensive Midfielder of the Year. Three Wildcats made the All-District 1st Team: senior defender Nabian Ramirez, senior defender Manuel Esparza and junior forward Omar Hernandez. Four Wildcats were chosen for the 2nd Team All-District: senior midfielder Isaac Gutierrez, senior forward Cristian Ramirez, senior midfielder Christian Palomino and junior defender David Moreno. Seven Wildcats were named All-District Honorable Mention: senior defender Osiel Lopez, senior defender Chris Dockweiler, senior defender Ricardo Torres, senior goalkeeper Eleazar Brena, senior midfielder Jose Salazar, junior defender Bryant Sanchez and senior midfielder Alfredo Vargas. The All-District Team is selected by the district’s coaches who can not vote for their own players. The Wildcats, under Coach Alexi Upton, were a second place district team with a 7-2 district mark. Their final district game at home against Royse City and the playoffs were canceled due to the UIL suspension of athletic events due to coronavirus concerns. The Wildcats ended with a solid season record of 13-6-5.
Photos courtesy of Alexi Upton.
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.
Former Saltillo Basketball Star Now Denison Lady Jackets Head Coach
Brock Giles, a former basketball star at Saltillo, is now the Head Coach of the Denison Lady Jackets Basketball Team. The 26-year old Giles, who was an assistant coach for the team last season, was elevated to head coach last month after Coach Rod Been decided to leave the job to pursue other business opportunities. Before coming to Denison, Giles was a head coach at Bland and Avery. Giles played two seasons at Morningside College in Iowa after his stellar high school career. At Saltillo, Giles was the District MVP his senior year, was the Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and was Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore. At Saltillo Giles played for his father Bill, now the Saltillo Lady Lions Basketball Coach and Saltillo Athletic Director.
Rowena Johnson Honored For 50-Year Legacy In Education
Sulphur Springs ISD Board Of Trustees this week celebrated the “career of a valued employee, treasured educator and cherished friend” for a milestone achievement few achieve in their career. Rowena Johnson was honored for 50 years of service at SSISD.
“Tonight is an extremely special night. It’s a night we can all come together to celebrate, and I can’t think of a better person to celebrate this night with than Mrs. Rowena Johnson,” SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody said during the board’s regular June meeting.
The Lamar Primary School principal in March officially turned in her notice of intent to retire this year. Cody recognized the long-time educator as the first SSISD female African American elementary principal,
Rowena Spigner Johnson has diligently served students for 50 years, from 1970 to 2020, starting as a third grade Houston elementary teacher in 1970. She served as a third-sixth grade teacher at Bowie Elementary from 1971 to 1991. In fact, Cody noted, she taught him at Bowie during that time. She serve as a reading specialist from 1991 to 93 at Travis Elementary. Johnson became campus principal at the Lamar campus in 1993, and has continued to serve as campus principal through this year.
“She has left a legacy in education in the Sulphur Springs ISD and made a difference in the lives of students, fellow educators, administrators and board members,” Cody read from a framed resolution recognizing Johnson.
Cody presented Johnson with the resolution as well as a vase of flowers.
Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk acknowledged Johnson “for all that she has meant to me in my role as an educator.” Monk first met Johnson as a student at Bowie Elementary.
“I knew how nice she was and everyone wanted to be in her classroom,” Monk said. As an administrator, 12 year ago when I became the principal at Travis, you were always very helpful to me. We could data and TAKS testing at the time and things like that,” Monk said.
From Johnson, she learned just how to be tough — to figure out what you want to do and make it happen. Johnson also set an example in her commitment to education.
“We are talking about 50 years, getting up and coming to school every day. She did that. I know what a hard job that is, the last 27 as principal. It’s a very hard job. So, I have her to look up to. I don’t know if I can make it 27 years in my role,” Monk said with a laugh. “You are a true jewel.”
Monk noted the importance of family and faith to Johnson.
“I think those things help her to be a very well rounded and a very good principal. I have enjoyed having you as a mentor,” Monk said, offering a hug of thanks to Johnson before presenting her with a photo of her seated on a bench at Lamar. The photo of a smiling Johnson has often served as a friendly welcome to new students assigned to Lamar, giving them at least one familiar face to recognize on their new journey as a Lamar student.
Superintendent Michael Lamb said when Billy Watkins, a former football teammate at Texas A&M University-Commerce, found out he’d been hired as SSISD superintendent 8 years ago he instructed him to “treat Mrs. Johnson right.” Watkins, a former Sulphur Springs SISD student, had fond memories of and great respect for Johnson. He recalled purchasing candy bars for Johnson and bringing them to her on school days. So, when he found out Johnson would be at one of his very first meetings as a superintendent, he came in prepared. He put a Snickers bar down for her. They shared a laugh as she recalled the little boy who used to bring her candy bars.
“He helped me with that deal and it’s been nothing but love ever since,” Lamb said with a laugh. “I can imagine putting 50 years in. That is such an amazing feat. Congratulations! You are an awesome lady and have done amazing things. We love you dearly.”
Lamb, on behalf of SSISD Board of Trustees, presented Johnson with a plaque of appreciation for 50 years of loyal, dedicated service to public education at SSISD. He offered congratulations “on a job well done.”
Typically, the recognition would be presented during a reception to allow others to honor the long-time educator for her service. However, due to COVID-19 were not able to host the reception on schedule, so the school officials celebrated her at the regular trustees meeting June 8. Lamb said the district would still like to host the celebration when safety guidelines allow them to do so.
“It’s been great. I thank the Good Lord for the opportunity to be able to have served for 50 years, because without Him, it would not have been possible. So, all praise and glory go to our heavenly Father,” Johnson said. “I wish the district well.”
Joining Johnson at the regular school board meeting Monday night for the celebration of her 50 years in education were her daughter 2 granddaughters, sister, and 2 cousins and friends.
Patricia Cooper, a friend and cousin of Johnson, noted that Rowena Johnson “took to heart Galations 6:9-10.” Cooper said Lamar school is dear to her heart as her mom taught there for 30 years, and Rowena has faithfully served as Lamar principal for 27 years. In honor of Johnson’s service, Cooper asked the school board to consider the possibility of changing the school from Lamar to Rowena Johnson Elementary School.
“We will certainly take that into consideration. Thank you,” Lamb told her.
