PJC President and Staff Receive Texas Pathways Award in San Antonio
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center
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PJC wins top award from Texas Success Center
Staff and faculty at Paris Junior College was surprised and elated to receive the Texas Pathways 2019 Excellence in Implementation and Scaling award from the Texas Success Center for the institution’s work in improving student success.
This was the top award presented by the Texas Success Center, out of 50 community colleges, at the Texas Pathways Institute in San Antonio. PJC is the first college to receive the award.
“I’m very excited about it,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin, “it is especially meaningful to me because it’s an award that took everybody at the college to win.”
According to Dr. Kristi Short, Director of the Texas Success Center, the award for Excellence in Implementation and Scaling is presented to the college that has made the most progress in transforming the institution using guided pathways principles.
This award recognizes excellence in all four pillars of guided pathways, which are mapping pathways to the student’s end goal, helping students choose and enter a pathway, keeping students on the path, and ensuring students are learning.
“I’ll share just a few highlights of the work happening at Paris Junior College,” said Dr. Short as the award was presented. “After students are admitted, they are assigned a success coach and required to meet with that coach prior to registration. Students choose a program up front and take a Learning Framework course in the first semester. By the end of the first semester, every student is on a program map. Students cannot enroll in courses off that map unless the student success coach overrides the map.”
He added: “PJC student success coaches track 15, 30, and 45 credit hour milestones and check whether students are on the path. Paris Junior College enjoys close collaboration with Texas A&M University-Commerce. Faculty from Paris Junior College worked with faculty from the university to talk through program maps, program learning outcomes, and marketable skills. Those program learning outcomes and career opportunities are included on program maps both to inform students and to remind faculty of the end goals for students.”
PJC has been working on the Pathways program since 2016, when the college was one of 30 chosen nationally to develop and implement the initiative.
“This validates how important this work is,” said Dr. Anglin, “especially for our faculty. We will continue to work to improve it and help our students achieve success.”
Last year, PJC won the 2018 Math Pathways Exemplar Award during the Texas Pathways Institute. The award was jointly announced by the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), the Texas Success Center (TSC), and the Dana Center Mathematics Pathways (DCMP).
Housed at TACC and operated through the Texas Community College Education Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Texas Success Center supports the 50 community college districts in Texas and helps them design and implement structured academic and career pathways for all students.
To learn more about PJC and its programs, call 903-782-0425.
Sulphur Springs Public Library Gets New Sign
Notice the beautiful new rock sign on the corner at the Sulphur Springs Public Library when you’re on North Davis Street. The lighted sign just beneath the flagpole brings attention to the location of our public library as well as the location of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library housed inside. Librarian Hope Cain stated that the Friends of the Library Foundation paid for the sign construction, and that it was built by RBC Construction. She feels the sign is a good investment as well as a nice addition to the beautiful library building and grounds at 611 North Davis Street.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Nationally Recognized With ‘A’ For Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Friday was awarded an ‘A’ in Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients in their care.
“Patient Safety is central to everything we do at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System here in Sulphur Springs because it shows our commitment to our patients and their health in every aspect of their care and treatment,” said Martin Fielder, MD, FACOG, chief medical officer for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances – Sulphur Springs. “Every member of our team works diligently each day to make sure our processes and procedures are designed and carried in out in the safest environment possible.”
“Earning an ‘A’ patient safety grade from Leapfrog yet again is an honor we are very excited to receive because it demonstrates where our priorities are – and that is on the patient,” said Paul Harvey, ministry president and chief executive officer for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances – Sulphur Springs. “Earning recognition for our safety is a real marker of our commitment toward our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ toward Sulphur Springs, this community and Northeast Texas.”
Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
“‘A’ hospitals show us their leadership is protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level – from clinicians to administrators to the board of directors – and we congratulate the teams who have worked so hard to earn this A.”
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an ‘A’ grade today, when Leapfrog announced grades for the fall 2019 update. To see CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ full grade details, learn how employers can help, and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
CNB Plans Silent Auction, Unveils 2020 Calendar with Photography by Leesa Toliver on November 19
City National Bank invites you to join us at our Main Bank Lobby on Tuesday, November 19th from 2-4pm for a reception! We will be unveiling our 2020 Calendar featuring 13 regional photographs taken by local photographer, Leesa Toliver. Mounted prints of these photos will be available for bid and purchase through a silent auction. Catch a sneak peek of one of the gorgeous photos below! Proceeds for these amazing prints will go to the Education Foundation for Sulphur Springs, a program in which grants are awarded to educators in our community that encourage an innovative and creative learning environment for their students! #CNBCares
3 In Custody After Bond Revoked, 1 Jailed for Violating Bond Conditions
Three Sulphur Springs residents were jailed Thursday after having their bond revoked on a felony charge each. A Dallas man was also taken into custody in district court for violating the conditions of his bond, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Turrentine took Summer Dawn Brooks, 19, of Sulphur Springs into custody at 3:58 p.m. Nov. 14, on an order from 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt revoking her bond on a manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
The arrest marks the third time this year Brooks has been booked into the county jail, according to jail reports.
She was first arrested Feb. 7 on a traffic warrant as well as a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; she was released from the county jail Feb. 25 on $35,000 bond, jail reports stated.
Brooks was also arrested Oct. 30 for no driver’s license-third offense and failure to maintain financial responsibility. She was released from jail on Halloween, jail reports stated.
She remained in the county jail Friday morning, Nov. 15 on the order revoking her probation, jail reports stated.
HCSO Officer M. Jackson took Cristian Alan Cortez was arrested at noon at the courthouse on a warrant. The 19-year-old Sulphur Springs man was booked into the county jail on the order revoking his bond on a possession of gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance in a drug-free zone charge, according to arrest reports.
Nov. 14 marked the second time this year Cortez was jailed locally. He was also arrested March 8 on a possession of controlled substance charge and an evading arrest charge, as well as five warrants for surety off bond; he was released on bond on the charges on Sept. 18. He remained in the county jail Friday morning, Nov. 15 for bond revocation, according to jail reports.
Taken into custody at the District Courthouse by Investigator Wade Sheets at 4 p.m. was Cody William McCulley. The 36-year-old Dallas man was jailed on order of Judge Northcutt to serve a 3-day sentence for violating conditions of bond, according to arrest and jail reports.
McCulley was arrested New Year’s Eve 2018 for possession of less the 1 ounce of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance; he was released from jail on $5,000 bond on New Year’s Day 2019, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Cpl. Todd Evans took Chrystal Brooke Vargas, 38, of Sulphur Springs into custody at the courthouse at 10:38 a.m. Nov. 14 on an order revoking her bond on a tampering with or fabricating evidence charge, according to arrest reports.
She was originally arrested July 18 on a warrant alleging the charge and was released from jail on $10,000 bond on the charge the next day. She remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Nov. 15, according to jail reports.
Meet Family Nurse Practitioner Nikki Collins Now at CHRISTUS Clinic
Nikki Neal Collins decided to go into the nursing profession right out of high school, and got her first job in the office of a medical clinic while in college. She spent several years in the Metroplex area completing her studies and becoming an RN, and she was soon began her career as a registered nurse. She worked in a variety of settings, from labor and delivery to other more specialized practices, and through this period, she realized that she actually liked interaction with the patients she saw. She realized that a few more years of college would put her in the career she sought as an advanced practice nurse, so she went back to school with a goal of obtaining a degree as an FNP. She is now so glad she did so, and that she has been able to come back to her home community!
Nikki is employed at CHRISTUS Clinic, and works in the Family Practice office of Dr. Guelde seeing patients of all ages, from babies three months old to Geriatric patients. She will be seeing patients in the Quitman Clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays, and in the local office on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
‘Christmas in the Park’ Opens for Two Nights, November 30, December 7
Heritage Park will be totally festive when it opens for the holiday season for two separate nights of tours. On Saturday November 30 and Saturday December 7, enjoy the delights in store for you and your family, as you ‘step back in time’ into a Victorian world filled with the Spirit of Christmas! The experience is sure to put you in the mood for holiday celebrations of your own. Cost to attend is very reasonable, only $3, which allows the Hopkins County Historical Society to offer memorable events in the historic park throughout the year.
Winnsboro Woman Arrested On Hopkins County Warrant
A 31-year-old Winnsboro woman was arrested in her hometown on a felony Hopkins County warrant. Deputy Dan Turrentine took Heather Rochelle Drew into custody in Winnsboro at 3:05 p.m. Nov. 14 and transported her to Hopkins County jail, where she was held on a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Drew remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Nov. 15, according to jail reports. The arrest marks the second time this year she has been jailed locally. She was also arrested Jan. 10 for manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; she was released from jail Jan. 11 on $30,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
Local Senior Citizens Crowd the Srs. Center for Chili
When Texas Chili is served, there’s usually a packed house! That was true in Sulphur Springs on Thursday November 14, 2019 when the annual Crockpot Chili Contest got off to a lively start inside the Senior Citizens Center at 150 MLK Drive. Nineteen pots of chili were entered, and after the five judges turned in their scores, the top three cooks and five honorable mentions were announced. Karon Weatherman, Director of the Seniors Center, also gives credit to Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home for supplying the certificates and trophies and to cookoff sponsor East Texas Physical Therapy.
1st Place – Vickie Pickel
2nd Place – Judith Beck with Wesley House/Wesley Oaks
3rd Place – Shelby Romans with Hopkins Place
Honorable Mentions were:
Tina Cox and Terri Campbell McDow with Rock Creek
Jimmie Bell and Fay Pool
Leslie Deann Forshee with Heritage Hospice
Paula Moody
Mary Ann Stephens with Signature Dialysis
Our Judges were: Enola Gay Mathews, Mike Patterson, Tyray Demarcus Smith, Price Orwosky and Jennifer Scroggins
Thank you to everyone that cooked Chili and to everyone who helped me clean everything up!
Miller Grove Volleyball Team Earns Another Trip to Regional Tournament
The Miller Grove Volleyball Team is headed to the Regional Tournament for the third year in a row. The Lady Hornets earned the trip with 3-0 win over Sulphur Bluff in a Regional Quarterfinal match in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School Tuesday night (November 12). The score was 25-13, 25-19 and 25-14. Miller Grove went through district play with a perfect 14-0 record and improved their season record Tuesday to 29-13. Coach Ana Billingsley said her girls showed up ready to play. She said they hit some spots with low momentum in the second set but they fought back to speed up the game and were able to finish. For the Lady Hornets, Alexis Green had 20 kills and 13 service points. Katie Williams had 8 kills and 10 assists. Lainy Burnett had 7 kills and 2 blocks. Lauren Bullard had 8 assists and 10 service points. Harli Watson had 10 digs. Jaylah Roberson had 8 digs. Kylee Saldana had 2 kills. The Lady Hornets face Trinidad in the Regional-Semifinals in Fort Worth at Billlingsley Field House at 5 p.m. on Friday evening. Miller Grove defeated Trinidad in the playoffs last year at the Regional Tournament.
Pictures courtesy of Ana Billingsley.
