Staff
Tyler Lennon
Tyler Lennon is the sports editor for Front Porch News and Chad’s Media. Previously with the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, Lennon has now covered sports in Hopkins County for four years. He also covers the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers and has media credentials for both the Rangers and the Mavericks.
On top of his writing, Lennon is also the lead play-by-play broadcaster for Chad’s Media. He has been the lead broadcaster for Sulphur Springs football, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball and more.
He is also the host of the sports talkshow Down & Out on Chad’s Media, along side Korey Hankins and Ryan Humphries. You can follow Down & Out on all social medias @Downandout903
Kaycey Chicas
Kacey Chicas was born and raised here in Sulphur Springs Texas. Born into a family of creatives, Kacey was engulfed into the life of creating with a passion. With an art teacher as a dad and three sisters with all individual creative niches it was easy for Kacey to find hers. Growing up she found an interest in the creation of film making. With a small camcorder and her dad’s laptop she created many at home videos with her sisters and learned very quickly this is what she wants to do with her life.
She later studied Art & Design at TJC where she graduated with presidential honors and eventually moved to SFA to study film. An example of some of her artwork you can see is her community art piece “Art gives you wings” which is in Downtown Sulphur Springs. After moving back home she quickly found her way into Chad’s Media as Production Assistant and moved up to Production Coordinator within a few months. She enjoys creating, editing, and all filming aspects when it comes to digital media. When not at work she loves being at home with her husband Andres and cat Jellybean.
Mandi Mitchell
Mandi Mitchell is born and raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas. After living in the Rockwall area for the last 10 years she decided to move back home with her husband and kids. Previously a small business owner, for the past several years Mandi has been a very active stay at home Mom and assisted her husband at their construction company as well. With her children growing older, Mandi decided to put her passion for meeting new people and helping people achieve their business dreams to work by partnering with Chad’s Media.
Her energetic optimism combined with her outgoing personality, determination, and willingness to learn the latest in digital marketing strategies made her the perfect fit for the role of Director of Sales for growing marketing agency. Mandi’s goal is to help make your business successful, and her client’s needs are her priority. When she’s not busy with Chads’ Media, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband of 13 years, Andy, and their three kids. Gage, 21, just finished EMT school in Rockwall. Parris, 18, is a senior at SSHS (Go Ladycats!) and Mabry, 10, is in 4th grade at SSES. Mandi is also a member of Shannon Oaks Church and CrossFit Sulphur Springs.
Grayson McClure
Grayson McClure was born and raised in Sulphur Springs, TX. After graduating at Sulphur Springs High School, he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher/coach at UTA where he is now finishing up his bachelor’s degree in Education. While Grayson is finishing up his school at UTA, he serves a contributor writer in which topics include local sports, Dallas Mavericks, and more. In addition, he’s the basketball color commentator for Chad’s Media.
Grayson is no stranger to the Sulphur Springs community. In high school, Grayson played varsity basketball for three years where he was a player on the 2019 State Semi-finalist team and the school record holder for most three pointers made in a game and season. If Grayson isn’t the gym, he’s watching basketball. Grayson also has a passion of highlighting the impact others have made on the Sulphur Springs community. He feels it is essential to highlight such positive effects on a community so it will pass down to future generations.
Whitney Vaughan
Whitney Vaughan. Vaughan is the founder of FitWhit and has experience writing health and fitness related columns in the past. Vaughan is also very active with Crossfit Sulphur Springs and will now be sharing her work with us here at Front Porch News.
Most of my adult life I have been physically active, whether it was working out in a gym doing my own thing, following workouts in a book, running, following a kettle bell workout program, or being active in even previous years in CrossFit. Also, all of my adult life, I’ve been a mother, full-time student with a job, or full-time teacher. Finding time to workout has always been important to me, but I never really reaped the benefits of the physical activity and being “fit” until I started giving my body the nutrition it needed. I have three children. We are active in after school activities, and our family is involved in community events almost weekly. A plan that gave me exactly what to shop for and what to eat each day was necessary for me to be successful. Meal plans are perfect for that because I am able to take a few hours on the weekend to be prepared for the entire week to just grab and go.
Mattison Holland
Mattison Holland is a writer for Front Porch News. She attends Royse City Highschool as a junior. She was born and raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She enjoys visiting her grandparents that live in Sulphur Springs and spending time around her hometown. One of her favorite things about Sulphur Springs is the smalltown feel even though it has everything you need. She loves the traditions and celebrations that have been around since she was young.
Outside of journalism Mattison partakes in Club Volleyball, National Honors Society (NHS), and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). She plans to graduate high school in May of 2024. After that she will advance to college majoring in clinical psychology and minoring in journalism. She will continue to be tied to this town and the people no matter where life takes her.
Korey Hankins
Korey Hankins was born and raised right here in Northeast Texas and now lives here with his wife Jerica and their two kids Judah and Hattie. He attended Paris Junior College and Northeast Texas Community College where he got an associate degree and later attended Texas Bible Institute serving with their digital team and graduating in the year 2015. After TBI he came home and became the Student Ministry Pastor at The Way Bible Church and help with their media needs.
Korey loves sports of all kinds and is an avid golfer, in fact if you drive past his house, you can usually see him and Judah outside working on their swings. He loves capturing high school sports to showcase and support the young people in the community who work tirelessly throughout the week. His greatest joy is knowing that the same way his dad has VHS tapes of him playing football, he hopes to provide the same to family’s in a newer context and medium. He loves the opportunity to capture moments and create long lasting memories through the power of media.
Christian Dicus
Christian Dicus is a Sulphur Springs, Texas native. She grew up in a family of artists and felt drawn towards film making and acting. She was in theatre productions all four years of high school and attended UIL competitions as well as being the 2014-2015 Wally the Wildcat mascot. After graduating high school, she moved to Dallas where she signed with Campbell agency for acting and print modeling. While in Dallas she held lead roles at The Cheesecake Factory and gained over six years of experience in the restaurant industry.
She later began studying digital marketing and in 2021 accepted a position with Chad’s Media so she can aid in their mission of creatively telling the stories of her community. Outside of her work, Christian is passionate about photography and enjoys other hobbies including pottery and cooking.
Allison Thibby
Allison Libby-Thesing is the owner of The Oaks Bed and Breakfast in Sulphur Springs. Her time is split between running her business and running with her family. She enjoys all tings soccer and volunteers as a coach.
When not at the fields you can find her at home in the garden, on the mats at jiu jitsu or behind the camera capturing different sights. She has her bachelors degree in Business from Baylor University and is a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School.
Dr. Juan Harrison
Dr. Juan Harrison is an inspirational short story author from Northeast Texas who has published multiple books. He received his doctorate degree in Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce. For over 40 years he worked as a teacher, coach and elementary school principal.
Dr. Harrison was honored in 2012 as Hopkins County Educator of the Year. He has served as the Young At Heart and Visitation Pastor at Central Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, since his retirement from public school service in 2014.
While serving as an officer in the Air Force he also served as the youth pastor of Hahn Baptist Church in Germany. Dr. Harrison published his first book, Serving Happiness in 2015, his second book Class Rules in 2016 and his third book of inspirational short stories, The Mostly True Stories of Dr. Juan Harrison in 2019, as well as Mostly True Stories Volume 2 in 2021.
Kaylah Price
Kayla Price is a former university administrator and title insurance company owner. She now manages her business, Mercury Properties and resides in her hometown of Sulphur Springs. Price is also an avid blogger (kaylaprice.com) and Youtuber . Her and her husband Michael have an adorable Westie named Archie, and she is a fourth generation Hopkins County resident.
Price enjoys volunteering, learning, cooking, cleaning, history, fashion and beauty. She is the 2022 Co-Chair of the Health Care Foundation Lights of Life Gala, a board member for Lake Country CASA and a member of the National Nominating Committee for Kappa Delta Sorority.
Kat Stovall
Kat was born in Dallas, Tx but is an East Texan through and through. She graduated from Rains High School went on to earn her BFA in Design Communication in 2015 and has recently began working towards her Master’s in Business Marketing. She recently moved to the Miller Grove area to lay down roots with her fiancé, son, and their pack of animals.
With 12 years working in the design and marketing industry, Kat has worn many hats. This has helped her to experience first-hand the importance of branding, marketing, and having a great website to a business’ success. Her true passion is helping startups and small businesses turn their dreams into a reality. This energy and vision encouraged Kat to start her own business, De La Grove Agency, a boutique creative agency that offers branding, web design and marketing services.
When she’s not working, you’ll most likely find her doing home renovations, road tripping somewhere, hunting for vintage finds or binge watching a new show.
Chad Kopal
Chloe Kopal
Chloe Kopal was born and raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas. She attended Sulphur Springs High School for 4 years and graduated in 2021. She was also a line member for the Blue Blazes Drill Team for 3 years.
Chloe is the Digital Content Creator for Front Porch News. Her love for our community shows through her work. She is very passionate about photography and has been ever since the first time she picked up a camera many years ago.
