Hopkins County Commissioners Court Approves Affordable Rental Housing
Feb. 27, 2023- Hopkins County Commissioners Court met today to discuss the proposed construction of affordable housing east of I-30 at Texas Street. The proposed housing plan will give approximately 1410 feet in total for each unit. Three buildings in total were proposed during the meeting. The Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved the proposed item. Additional details on the building were not available during the meeting.
NETLA Livestock Market Show Winners
Feb. 27, 2023- The NETLA Livestock Market was held last Saturday, several types of livestock were shown during the event from heifers to poultry. Students from all over North-East Texas showed up to participate in the event.
Steer
- Sr. Mika Gray – MGFFA
- Int. Lila Bettes – NHFFA
Lamb
- Sr. Reece Regan – HC4H
- Int. Ryan Regan – HC4H
- Jr. Kallie Mabe – MGFFA
Poultry
- Sr. Braxton Northcut – MGFFA
- Int. Kayson Logan – HC4H
- Jr. Avery Hinton – SSFFA
Swine
- Sr. Ashley Pace – NHFFA
- Int. Jenna Murray – CPFFA
- Jr. Serenity Albritton – CFFA
Goat
- Sr. Kennedi Lambert – SBFFA
- Int. Hattie Bland – NHFFA
- Jr. Olivia Kelly – MGFFA
Heifers
- Sr. Coen bell – SSFFA
- Int. Kurt Feick – HC4H
- Jr. Katie Alexander – MGFFA
Heifer Champions
Grand – Abbie Melton – MGFFA
Reserve – Coen Bell – SSFFA
Ag Mechanics
Grand – Wayne Hinton, Tate Bradford, Garrett Tubb, Jose Flores – SSFFA
Reserve – Cash Gamblin, Braddox Rawson – SSFFA
Showmanship – Cash Gamblin, Braddox Rawson – SSFFA
Sulphur Springs Emergency Sirens Will Be Tested February 27
February 27, 2023 – Emergency sirens will be tested in Sulphur Springs at noon today by the Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Office.
The test is to gauge the reliability of the emergency warning system and is conducted to find any potential flaws in the system so they can be corrected prior to a real emergency situation. The sirens could be sounded not only for weather warnings such as tornadoes, which are the most common in the area, but also in case of any emergency that could affect the safety and lives of citizens in Sulphur Springs.
Recent tests have shown the emergency sirens to be a ready source of warning in case of emergencies such as tornados or other threats to safety.
This will only be a test
Couple Charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Arrested in Hopkins County
February 27, 2023 – Eric Wayne Caviness and Anna Carol Caviness were arrested in Hopkins County and each jailed on a separate warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies stopped the blue Chevrolet Cruze for a defective licence plate light on I-30 near mile marker 139. A records check showed each occupant to have a outstanding warrant. They were arrested and transported to Hopkins County jail without incident.
The warrant for their arrest was out of Bexar County i.e. San Antonio Texas. They own a communication company in San Antonio and have ties to their birth state, Tennessee.
The couple remains in Hopkins County Jail Monday Morning.
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.
Wildcats Baseball in Wylie East Tournament This Weekend
Coach Jerrod Hammack and Wildcats baseball this weekend head to Wylie East for their second tournament on the spring season.
The three day invitational runs Thursday through Saturday, Mar. 2-4.
This past weekend saw Sulphur Springs tee off their regular season in Mount Pleasant for a three day tourney.
Wildcats baseball went 2-1-1 at their former district foe’s invitational.
Thursday had the Wildcats taking on Pittsburg, but falling to their new district foe in their season-opener 9-1. The Pirates had two or more runs in three innings, with Sulphur Springs lone one coming in their last at-bat.
Things steadily improved from there for the baseball team.
A second game immediately after their loss to Pittsburg had the Wildcats teeing off with Atlanta, and their second-straight contest showed the grit of this squad.
The Rabbits immediately jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the top of the game, but Sulphur Springs struck back with a run of their own. Trailing 2-1 for 2.5 innings, the bottom of the fourth was huge for the Wildcats as Coach Hammack’s squad drove in three runs taking a 4-2 lead.
Atlanta in their last at-bat tied it up 4-4 and the score went unchanged from there for one of the Rabbits’ two ties of the weekend.
Luckily for the Wildcats, it would be their final non-victory of the weekend.
Friday, Feb. 24 saw Sulphur Springs taking on host Mount Pleasant, and Coach Hammack’s team got their first win on the season, shutting down the Tigers 6-0.
Kaden Mitchell pitched the shutout, going all five innings while giving up only two hits. The Wildcat struck out five Mount Pleasant batters and walked one in the win.
A run in the second began a snowball effect. In the third, a staggering six walks plus a single saw Sulphur Springs jump out to their commanding lead in only the third inning, giving way to the first win for the baseball team on the year.
Coach Jerrod Hammack’s squad saved their best for last though in an 11-1 drubbing of Grace Community on Saturday.
The Cougars got out to an early lead putting a run a on the board, which was quickly nullified when the Wildcats put two of their own in the immediately following at-bat.
Things fell apart for Grace Community in the fourth inning. Sulphur Springs hit two doubles, reached first with four Wildcats being walked, and several errors and failed fielder’s choices saw Coach Hammack’s team put nine runs on them, quickly being called thereafter.
Matt Mitchell went 2 for 2 on the day, driving in three runs and crossing home himself once. The Wildcat batted 5 for 10 on the weekend and drove in another run earlier Saturday in the win over Mount Pleasant.
Sulphur Springs picked up two-straight wins on Saturday, their first on the season. Following the tourney, Wildcats baseball is 2-1-1 on the year.
Next up, Coach Jerrod Hammack and his team head to the Wylie East tourney running Thursday through Saturday, Mar. 2-4.
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.
Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area Master Plan 2023
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FORT WORTH DISTRICT
P. O. BOX 17300
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-0300
February 15th, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICE
OPEN HOUSE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE DRAFT JIM CHAPMAN LAKE AND WHITE OAK CREEK MITIGATION AREA MASTER PLAN 2023 JIM CHAPMAN LAKE, SULPHUR RIVER BASIN HOPKINS, DELTA, BOWIE, CASS,
MORRIS, AND TITUS COUNTIES, TEXAS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, hereby informs the public that the Draft Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Mitigation Area Master Plan (MP) 2023, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and Environmental Assessment (EA) will be available for public review. An open house will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on February 27, 2023, at the Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482.
The public open house will give an overview of the proposed changes to the current Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area Master Plan, provide instructions on how to submit comments, and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide feedback. The 30-day public comment period will begin on February 28, 2023, and end on March 30, 2023.
For those unable to attend the public open house, the draft MP, EA, comment form with instructions, and a downloadable presentation covering the same topics covered in the open house will be available for download starting on February 27, 2023, at the following Fort Worth District website:
https://www.swf.usace.army.mil/About/Lakes-and-Recreation-Information/MasterPlan-Updates/Jim-Chapman-Lake/
The current MP for Jim Chapman Lake and White Oak Creek Mitigation Area was last approved in 1990. It requires revision to address changes in regional land use, population, outdoor recreation trends, and the USACE management policy. Key topics to be discussed in the revised MP include revised land use classifications, new natural and recreational resource management objectives, recreation facility needs, and special issues such as invasive species management and existing habitats. Public participation is critical to the successful revision of the Master Plan.
Comments, suggestions, and questions can be submitted in writing and given to the USACE staff at the scheduled open house, emailed to [email protected], or mailed to Matthew Seavey, Jim Chapman (Cooper), Lake Manager; 64 Clear Springs Park, Texarkana, Texas 75501.
Sincerely,
Brandon E. Wadlington
Chief, NEPA & Natural Resources Section
Regional Planning and Environmental Center
Consider Motherland Okra in 2023
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Garden
One of the more fun crops to raise is okra. Historically, Clemson spineless has been the variety to grow or purchase. Its main limitation has been it needs to be picked at a maximum of 4” in length. Recent years have seen new varieties such as Jambalaya that produces more pods per stalk. Burgundy that remains edible out to 8”; and a Louisiana variety that’s good out to 16”!!!
Well, there’s a variety I’m going to sample in 2023 called the motherland okra. It’s an heirloom variety that supposedly came out of Nigeria in the 1700-1800s and doesn’t look like any okra you’ve ever seen. It’s a very reliable and productive staple there.
My Clemson and burgundy plants in good soil reached heights of 10’ this year. Fortunately, the plants easily tolerate being bent over to reach the pods in their upper portions. That’s good, because motherland okra plants can reach 15’!!! On top of that, the leaves are edible and grow to elephant ear size! In Africa, the leaves are traditionally made into soup.
For those concerned about trying a new variety, when Clemson seed packs contain hundreds of seeds, relax. Motherland seed packets come with 10 seeds. The quantity will probably rise and the cost come down ($6 per packet) as its popularity grown in future years. Seeds are hard to find, and Baker Creek Seeds seems to be the only current source.
The okra pod is gigantic compared to Clemson pods. Though limited to the same size 4” as many other okra species, the pods are several times the diameter. It’s like taking 4-5 Clemson pods and putting them all in a new single pod. Google motherland okra to see.
Planting conditions are similar to other varieties. Soak seeds for 24 hours before planting. Plant 18” apart.
2023 CTE Month Feature 2: Digital Communications
Editor’s Note: February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month 2023, KSST has compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS.
Students interested in Audio/Video Production can take Jordan Owens’ Digital Communications classes. There are four courses in the A/V Production program, concluding with practicum students’ senior year.
Intro starts with basics, such as students becoming acclimated with editing software like Adobe Premiere and Suite. The latter is all-encompassing, including Photoshop, Illustrator (used for designing graphics). The higher up in the curriculum one is, the more in-depth these programs get taught to them.
Owens said in an interview with KSST last week that whichever focus or passion students are drawn to in this program, the curriculum is designed to embrace them on their journey.
AV1 lets students get hands-on, focusing primarily on getting out of the classroom and using camera equipment. AV2 is more of the same, with the program’s conclusion coming students’ senior year.
Practicum in the past has seen students intern at KSST and running social media accounts for different businesses around town.
The Digital Communications instructor believes the latter is particularly useful as “A/V is all encompassing,” Owens said, “it’s not just your traditional broadcast journalism, it could also just be social media videos and social media campaigns, so letting students get an opportunity to do that as well.”
Owens went to SSHS as a student, going to nearby Texas A&M Commerce and interning at KSST prior to becoming an instructor at the high school. Owens is in his fourth year teaching at SSHS.
The instructor said prior to him taking over, most of the A/V work the high school did was Wildcat TV, a student-produced newscast. Since then, Owens has grown the Digital Communications department into a full, four-year program.
Owens said the program is a great opportunity for students to learn how to operate camera equipment, then taking their footage and editing it so it can be the most compelling product it can be. He says it is a wonderful outlet for students to create.
Things students work on in the Digital Communications program include making 30 second commercials, to even making films both long and short. Owens said it allows students to get their feet wet in the creative process: from scripting, storyboarding, shooting and acting, all the way up to post-production.
Speaking more on commercials, the A/V instructor told KSST Radio in an interview that his program also has community-based work. Owens said companies and non-profits around town come to the program asking if they can shoot different events, such as banquets.
Previous promotions and shooting opportunities has linked the Digital Communications program with Heart of Hope, a non-profit prenatal care center based in Sulphur Springs, as well as working with the Veterans Memorial that has come to town. The A/V instructor said being able to go out and do events like these are not only great for all parties involved, but they help students enrolled in the program get their feet wet.
“It’s a really cool opportunity for students not just in the classroom, or on campus, but to go out into the community and get real-world experience,” Owens said Thursday.
The Digital Communications instructor said his CTE program being featured this year is big, and not just for the publicity. He says the opportunity for students to enroll in the program goes almost seamlessly with where society is today.
“Every student nowadays are on their phone: TikTok, Snapchat, Youtube… ya know, they their favorite YouTube stars, and some students might think, ‘wow, that’s something I might be interested in doing, I just don’t know how to do it or don’t have the means to do it, or I don’t have the equipment to do it,'” Owens said Thursday.
That is where the beauty of this program comes.
“We provide you with that here at the high school. You get to use industry-standard equipment, not just the editing software but the cameras themselves… and you get to put your hands [on them] and go out and work with and produce content for the school, for community members, and then also we do passion projects,” Owens said.
This is particularly of interest to students because the program allows them the freedom to go out and not just do course-work.
“It’s a great out to be creative. To take that creative space in your head and put it out there and create things on a daily basis, and that’s why I love the class, it’s not just textbook-oriented… it’s a chance for them to come in and it’s kind of a free-reign, just be creative. Have a process with that, but be creative in the outcome,” Owens said.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230 and Suddenlink Channel 18, check out www.KSSTradio.com, the KSST Radio 1230 AM YouTube Channel and other KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these 2023 CTE features. Just watch for the “2023 CTE” heading throughout the month.
If you missed any of the features, be sure to click the links below to catch up:
Kick Off Event: Sulphur Springs High School Kicks Off CTE Month 2023 With Mayoral Proclamation
Feature 1: Applied Agricultural Engineering
Wildcats Basketball Faces Dallas Pinkston in Regional Quarterfinals
February 26, 2023 – Coach Brandon Shaver and his team are thrilled following Friday’s second-round win.
Friday, Feb. 24 in Royse City, the Wildcats dispatched Wilmer-Hutchins 56-44 for an Area championship.
That win Friday marks the second straight year under Shaver that men’s basketball has clinched a ticket to the Regional Quarterfinals.
It’s also the fourth time in six seasons that Sulphur Springs heads to the third round.
A big storyline from the Area win over the Eagles saw Coach Shaver win his 100th career game. Last season saw him lead the program to 28 wins, with 30 this year for a total of 58 wins in Sulphur Springs.
Congratulations to the men’s basketball coach for winning his 100th career game as head coach, with almost 60 percent of those wins leading Sulphur Springs.
But following the big win for the program Friday in the Area round, Tuesday has the Wildcats taking on Pinkston at Rockwall Heath.
In the Area game on Friday, Feb. 24, Sulphur Springs and the Eagles kept neck-and-neck throughout a vast majority of the second-round playoff contest.
Much like the Tuesday before, in Bi-District, Wildcats basketball found themselves a decent lead over their foes, only for the opposing squad to battle back.
Coach Shaver says the sport is a game of runs, so his team has to do their best to weather the storm and strike back with equal ferocity. His squad did just that in the second-round playoff game, using a strong closing quarter to win over the Eagles 56-44.
Sulphur Springs shot much better in their Area game, with five different Wildcats contributing to scoring in the win.
Kordrick Turner had a second-straight big playoff game, surpassing his 17 points in Bi-District with 20 against Hutch. Closely behind Turner was another senior, Parker Whisenhunt, who scored 17 Friday over three quarters. Malachi Myles finished just shy of double-figures at nine, followed by Cole Theofiledes with seven. Branson Lynn rounded out scoring Friday with two free throws in the fourth.
The 56-44 win over Wilmer-Hutchins in the Area playoff game clinches a third-round ticket for Sulphur Springs.
Next up, Coach Shaver and his squad take on Dallas Pinkston in the Regional Quarterfinals.
The two schools met earlier this year, in the final non-district contest for Wildcats basketball, falling in Dallas 80-71. Sulphur Springs looks to win the crucial rematch on Tuesday for the right to move on to the Regional Semifinals.
That game tips off Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Rockwall Heath at 7 P.M.
Tuesday’s Regional Quarterfinal contest will be broadcasted onto KSST 1230 AM.
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 Goes 5-1 in Mount Pleasant Tournament
Lady Cats softball travelled east on I-30 for their second tournament, in Mount Pleasant Thursday through Saturday.
The squad went 4-1, falling in a shutout Friday morning but recovering well from there.
Coach David Carrillo and his squad almost matched their results from last weekend’s home tourney, which saw Sulphur Springs go a perfect 6-0.
The festivities for the Lady Cats began bright and early Thursday morning in Mount Pleasant.
A 9:30 A.M. start time made little difference for Sulphur Springs, beating Hooks 3-1 in the first of two games.
The softball team went up for good int he third thanks to Jayden Harper and Kylie Montgomery singling. Combined with a Reese Ragan double, and the Lady Cats went up 3-0 and never looked back.
Later Thursday had Sulphur Springs dueling with Rains, and it quickly became a pitchers duel. The Lady Cats got just two hits in the entire game, but they made them count.
Gracie Adair, in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and Emma Thompson on second, hit a ground ball getting the 2B home, giving Coach Carrillo’s team the 1-0 walk-off win.
Friday saw Thursday night’s hitting struggles carry over for Sulphur Springs. The Lady Cats managed just five hits in a 5-0 shutout loss to Prairiland.
The loss would be the lone one on the weekend for Coach Carrillo’s squad.
Following that loss to the Lady Patriots, the bats really came alive in a 13-0 drubbing of Farmersville. The softball team scored early and often against the Fightin’ Farmers, scoring in all six innings except for the fifth.
In the second though, Reese Ragan got the biggest hit of the tournament for Sulphur Springs, sending one over the left field fences for a grand slam, putting the game well out of reach for an outmatched Farmersville squad.
Saturday brought the conclusion of the Lady Cats second tournament, as Sulphur Springs easily dispatched former district foe and tourney host Mount Pleasant 8-2.
Taking care of the Lady Tigers meant Coach Carrillo’s team went 4-1 over three days in Mount Pleasant.
Some hitting highlights from the tournament:
- Emma Thompson — 6 for 12, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Reese Ragan — 6 for 17, 4 RBI, 3 R
- Bayler Boatman — 4 for 13, 3 RBI, 3 R
- Jayden Harper — 6 for 15, 2 RBI, 3 R
- Gracie Adair — 4 for 11, 5 RBI, 2 R
Following the tourney, Sulphur Springs is now 11-1 on the season.
They next head to Sherman on Tuesday, Feb. 28 for their second non-district contest.
That game is scheduled to tee off Tuesday at 6:30 P.M.
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.
