Mount Pleasant Tribune www.TribNow.com 147th Year • No. 34 Mount Pleasant, Texas Wednesday, April 28, 2021 75¢ SAFE-T gala a roaring success Mount Pleasant resident wins $3 million on scratch-off ticket Guests enjoyed a night of Roaring 20s fun at the SAFE-T Gatsby Gala. Pictured from left to right are Eddie Bratton, Sheletha Bratton, Telesa Craig, and Mayor Tracy Craig. TRIBUNE PHOTO / DI DUNCAN By DI DUNCAN designer handbags, vacations, generators, and more, [email protected] were placed on display tables so that buyers could view them before bidding. On Friday, SAFE-T held their Great Gatsby Gala at SAFE-T says they are very grateful to all who came Lucy’s Hacienda in Mount Vernon. Guests arrived to, donated to, and worked the event. dressed in Roaring 20s attire or formal cocktail dress. “Thank you to everyone who attended and donated The event included a gourmet dinner, casino games, a and a HUGE Thank You to Jacob Butler, Pookie Bran- live band, an open bar, and an auction. non, and staff who volunteered to make this a great SAFE-T raised more than $30,000 with this event, event,” said SAFE-T. “Thanks to all of you, SAFE-T which was attended by some of the area’s most prom- raised $30,313.36 gross!” inent people. Auction items, including power tools, COURTESY PHOTO By DI DUNCAN [email protected] Pritchett named lone finalist Life just got a little sunnier for one local resident. According to Lauren Callahan of the Texas Lottery Commission, a Mount Pleasant citizen recently pur- chased a winning scratch ticket worth $3 million for CHISD Superintendent from the Alma Mart Shell Travel Center on N Jeffer- son Avenue. FROM STAFF REPORTS school principal at Avery ISD. Prior to his administrative experience, Pritch- See WINNER Page 2 On April 22, the Chapel Hill Indepen- ett was a high school English teacher dent School District Board of Trustees for Pine Tree High School and Corsi- named Daniel Pritchett as the lone cana High School. He holds a Masters finalist for the position of Superinten- of Educational Leadership from Ste- Middle school dent of Schools after Marc Levesque’s ven F. Austin University and a Bache- retirement. Following a 21-day wait- lors of Arts from Texas A&M Universi- ing period, the Board will once again ty-Commerce with a major in English assistant principal saves convene to act on the employment of and a minor in Special Education. Daniel Pritchett as Superintendent of Pritchett was raised in East Texas choking student Schools for the Chapel Hill Indepen- Daniel Pritchett and attended Northeast Texas Com- dent School District. munity College after graduating from Having twenty years of experience in education, Daingerfield High School. Pritchett currently serves as the Business Man- Pritchett is married to Annie and has four chil- ager and oversees state and federal programs for dren: Tristan, 17, Tennyson, 15, Emerick, 8, and Daingerfield-Lone Star Independent School District. Ethan 15. He previously served Daingerfield-Lone Star ISD as “We are thrilled to be joining the Chapel Hill fam- the principal for South Elementary and was the high ily,” says Pritchett. Mount Pleasant COURTESY PHOTO SUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBE On February 23, a student in the Wallace Middle School cafeteria no- Tribune ticed that his friend was choking on a piece of food. He immediately to ran to get help from Assistant Principal, Shonda Rutledge. Rutledge, DEMOCRACY without hesitation, sprang into action, administering abdominal thrusts to the student. After several attempts, she was able to dis- lodge the food, freeing up the student’s airway. For her heroic efforts Support Local Journalism and preventing further harm to the student, Rutledge was presented an MPISD Above and Beyond Award at Monday night’s board meeting. “Thank you, Mrs. Rutledge, for all you do for the staff and students at MPISD,” said the district. SUBSCRIBE Page 2 • TribNow.com NEWS April 28, 2021 4th annual Jake Wilson Chapel Hill UIL is State Bound Memorial Tournament to be held May 1 The Jake Wilson Memorial Foundation 4th Annual Amateur Open Team Tournament is slated for May 1 at The Minnow Bucket Marina on Lake Fork in Quitman. This will be a one-day Team Bass Tournament. The team entry fee is $160, and registration can be completed at https://jakecwilson.com/event-registra- tion. Prizes will be awarded to the top ten teams at the tournament, with first place receiving $2,000. About the event: The Jake Wilson Memorial Bass Tournament was or- ganized to celebrate the life and legacy of Jake Charles Wilson. Jake passed from this life on August 30, 2017. Jake had a passion for fishing, hunting and singing. He loved the Lord and cherished his children with all Computer Science Regional Champions, State Qualifiers. Pictured (L to Pictured (L to R) – Kendall Hensley and Isha Mistry (State Qualifier) his heart. In his 34 short years, Jake served as Children’s R) –Natalia Sekulic, Logan Cicman, Isha Mistry, Kylie Brice Pastor, worked in Prison Ministry and led Praise and Worship services. Jake was also well respected in the On Saturday, April 17th, the Chapel Hill UIL students Gas Pipeline Industry and made many friends he con- head to Nacogdoches to compete at the Regional II Aca- sidered family. demic Meet at Stephen F. Austin University. In Computer We thank the Lord for the relationship we had with Science, Chapel Hill claimed the top spot as the Region- Jake and the lasting impact he made in our lives. Until al Champions placing first as a team. Team members we are reunited in Heaven let us lift others up and to include, senior Logan Cicman, freshmen Natalia Sekulic speak words of life daily! and Kylie Brice, and junior, Isha Mistry. Individually, Lo- Please contact Diane Wilson for more information gan Cicman was the indisputable Regional Champion via at 940-208-JAKE (5253) or 972-567-5215, or via placing first overall, while Natalia Sekulic placed 5th email at [email protected]. overall. Out of the 35 regional participants, all four of Chapel Hill students placed in the top16. Chapel Hill had a team score of 538, while the 2nd place team of Fort Worth Harmony had 420. With one senior, one ju- Winner Continued from page 1 nior and two freshmen, this is definitely the youngest Computer Science team to ever advance to state. The ticket was a “$250 Million Cash Party” game, Chapel Hill also advanced to State in Computer Ap- Braxton Sanders, 6th Place, Persuasive Speaking COURTESY PHOTOS which offers more than $250 million in total prizes. plications with Isha Mistry who placed 3rd overall. The ticket sold to the winning Mount Pleasant resi- Isha score was not only 3rd in our region, but also 3rd gently afterschool for months and it just goes to show dent was the third of four top prizes worth $1 million overall in the State. Also placing at Regionals was Ken- that you get out what you put in”, says Williams. Also or more claimed in this game. The ticket sells for $30 dall Hensley, who placed 6th overall. “We competed in placing at Regionals was Braxton Sanders, who placed and the overall odds of winning any prize, including hands down the best Region in the state as the top 3 6th in Persuasive Speaking. Due to UIL changing their breakeven prizes, are 1 in 3.45. scores in the entire state out of 96 competitors was out regulations to HUB location instead of the traditional The winner elected to remain anonymous. of Region 2. Kendall Hensley’s 6th place score would hosting at University of Texas, Chapel Hill will be head- have advanced to state in 2 other regions”, said coach P. ed back to SFA to compete this Friday and Saturday, Anthony Williams. “These students have practiced dili- April 30-May 1. Time to take a closer look at your financial picture? TxDOT calls for safer driving as work Will your current portfolio meet your needs for your retirement? 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