Paris District Weekly Road Report for November 18
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of Nov. 18, 2019. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.
Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 82, Grayson County: from FM 901 in Sadler to FM 1417 in Sherman. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to pave the eastbound and westbound lanes with a new hot mix asphalt surface.
FM 691, Grayson County: from FM 131/Loy Lake Rd. to US 75. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers continue widening FM 691 to an ultimate five-lane roadway. The intersection of FM 691 with FM 131/Loy Lake Road has been converted to a four-way stop intersection and will become a signalized intersection at the conclusion of the construction project.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional one lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between FM 120 and Crawford Street. Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts as workers work on constructing the retaining walls and new exit ramp for this project. The southbound US 75 exit ramp for Crawford Street is closed and traffic wishing to use this exit should use the FM 120 (Morton Street) exit.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for a lane closure on the southbound US 75 frontage road and the westbound Spur 503 ramp while construction crews work on rebuilding the southbound frontage road.
US 75 Slope Repair at Randell Lake Road, on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road. The southbound frontage road and Randell Lake exit ramp are closed due to a slope failure. Crews are working to lime treat the soils and place underdrains.
US 75 Full Depth concrete repair, Grayson County: crews will be working on US 75, weather permitting, each week from Sunday night thru Thursday night. Lane closures will be present during the nighttime only in order for crews to replace failed concrete. Lane closures begin at 7:30 p.m. and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile operations as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the day-time.
US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75 on US 69. Watch for temporary day time lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
FM 120, Grayson County: One mile east of US 69 in Denison at Paw Paw Hill. Watch for occasional one lane closures during the day time while crews work to bore a new drainage pipe at this location.
Cedar Road, Grayson County: just east of SH 11 at Cedar Creek. Cedar Road is closed at Cedar Creek in order to remove and build a new bridge. Traffic on Cedar Road will need to use an alternate route, such as Snap Road, during construction.
Greer Road, Grayson County: just south of FM 901 at Brushy Creek. Greer Road is closed at Brushy Creek in order to remove and build a new bridge. Traffic on Greer Road will need to use an alternate route, such as Sandusky Road, during construction.
SH 289, Grayson County: in Gunter at Autry Blvd and at W. Cedar St. Watch for shoulder closures and occasional lane closures as workers install sidewalk and curb ramps.
FM 121, Grayson County: in Gunter from 4th St.to 6th St. Watch for shoulder closures and occasional lane closures as workers install sidewalk and curb ramps.
FM 1310, Grayson County: from Eisenhower State Park to SH 91. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on blade leveling the roadway.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 2815, Fannin County: from FM 1629 to SH 11. The contractor has elected to wait until December 2nd to begin work on this rehab project.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two lane roadway to a four lane divided section.
FM 409, Fannin County: from FM 2029 to FM 100. FM 409 has been reopened near County Road 40P as the pipe replacement is complete. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to complete the project.
County Road 5025, Fannin County: at Delba Creek. County Road 5025 is closed at Delba Creek while crews remove and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 5025 will need to use an alternate route during construction.
FM 3321, Fannin County: from FM 274 to end of State maintenance. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on blade leveling the roadway.
FM 64, Fannin County: from SH 34 to the Delta County line. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work to fog seal the roadway.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
SH 11, Hopkins County: From SH 19 to White Oak Creek. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform dirt work; flaggers will direct traffic.
SH 19, Hopkins County: From IH 30 to Loop 301. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform joint repairs at concrete intersections.
IH 30, Hopkins County: North Frontage Road from Loop 301 to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade guardrail.
FM 1448, Franklin County: From Wood County Line to FM 115. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews install drainage structures.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
FM 79 at Loop 286, Lamar County: Watch for workers and equipment along southwest exit ramp while crews perform slope repair work.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Watch for temporary lane closures and traffic shifts while crews extend cross structures and widen pavement to install passing lanes.
US 82, Lamar County: from BU 82H to Red River County Line. Watch for temporary shoulder/lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
US 82, Red River County: from Lamar County Line to SH 37. Watch for temporary shoulder/lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
SH 24, Delta County: from SH 19 to Hunt County Line. Watch for temporary shoulder and lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
FM 195, Lamar County: from US 82 (Loop 286) to Red River County Line. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
US 271 (Loop 286), Lamar County: south of BU82H. Watch for work zones and drive safely through construction areas as final work is being performed.
SH 37 safety upgrades, Red River County: from the Texas-Oklahoma state line south to the Red River-Franklin County line. Watch for work zones as workers upgrade metal-beam guard fence, replace or extend new structures and install safety end treatments.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 66, Hunt County: from near FM 6 to near FM 2642. A project consisting of widening pavement, installing continuous left turn lanes, and safety treating fixed objects is underway. Please be aware of lane closures and workers in this area.
I-30/US69, Hunt County, project to replace metal beam guard fence is underway. Please be cautious when driving in this area.
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County To Purchase 10 Acres Of Property in Precinct 3
Election Results Canvassed, Victims Services Agreement Approved
Hopkins County Commissioners Court, during a special called meeting Friday morning, gave approval for Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley to begin the process to purchase 10 acres of land. Commissioners also canvassed the election results and approved an agreement to provide victim services.
Property Proposal
Bartley, following a 13 minute executive session, explained that Precinct 3 is currently and has been leasing the land for several years for precinct work. It is located wih frontage on County Roads 3564 and 3602. It’s held in an estate, owned by two brothers, one who owns 1 acre of land and one who owns the other 9 acres.
“The family is to the point of liquidations. The brothers live in Louisiana and Florida,” Bartley said.
Bartley proposed purchasing the land for $4,000 per acre in two contracts. The county would seek bids from local banks to make the purchase, then the purchase would be paid out of the Precinct 3 budget over the next 7 years. Bartley said a title company and surveyor were on standby, ready to begin the process, if given approval, with the deal wrapped up by the end of the year. The fee to the title company would be $1,500.
The Precinct 3 Commissioner said his plan would be to use some of the materials salvaged from the county building which is slated to be torn down on Rosemont and Houston Street in December to build an equipment shed on the property.
The request from Bartley was seconded by Barker and received unanimous approval of those present to start the contract process; Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin was not in attendance at the meeting.
Newsom noted the court would be asked again to vote on the measure for approval of funding source and when the deed is ready.
SAVNS Agreement
The Commissioners Court also gave approval to renew a “participating entity services agreement” for the Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service.
The county receives a grant each year to provide victims services, but the county is required to sign a contract allowing a company to provide these services, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook explained. The provided services are 100 percent grant funded with no funding match required from the county, they just require court approval.
Canvassing Election Returns
County Clerk Tracy Smith presented the election returns from the Nov. 5 Constitutional Amendments Election to be officially canvassed by the Commissioners Court.
Smith reported 3,683 total ballots cast in Hopkins County. That’s over 15 percent of the registered voters casting ballots, a good turn out considering voting is traditionally low during years Constitutional Amendments are on the ballot. She noted there were five other entities — the City of Sulphur Springs, City of Cumby, Cumby ISD, North Hopkins ISD and Lake Fork Water Supply — conducting elections as well, however, which could account for the uptick.
Of the 12 voting locations, the most ballots were cast at League Street Church of Christ and Hopkins County Courthouse. Registered Hopkins County voters were able to cast ballots at any voting location, not necessarily the one located nearest to their address.
Smith said the election went well thanks to the work of her staff and the election judges and clerks at each location.
Wildcats Basketball Team Opens the Regular Season Against Decatur Saturday in the Cowtown Showdown
After two scrimmages against four teams, the Wildcats Basketball Team, ranked #5 in Class 5A, will open the 2019-2020 season Saturday (November 16) at 11 a.m. against Decatur, ranked #7 in Class 4A, in the Cowtown Showdown at North Crowley. Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta indicates the Decatur Eagles will present a good challenge for the Wildcats. Last year’s Wildcats had a 29-9 season record. They were district champions with a perfect 10-0 record in district play. The Wildcats won five playoff games and earned a trip to the State Tournament, the first one for the school in a long, long time. Expectations are high in the community and Coach Cipoletta seems to be more than ready to get this season under way.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Drops Close Game With Aubrey Friday at Bells Tournament
The Lady Cats Basketball Team lost a close game Friday (November 15) in the Silver Bracket of the Bells Invitational Tournament to Aubrey, 39-35. The game was tied 30-30 with just less than five minutes left to play. The Lady Chaps hit some key free throws down the stretch to eke out the win. The game was closely called with numerous fouls called on both teams. Despite missing some court time due to foul trouble, freshman Kenzie Willis led the Lady Cats and all scorers in the game with 15 points including one three-point basket. Freshman Addisyn Wall had 6 points include a three. Freshman Serenity Lewis had 5 points. Sophomore Hannah Cordell added 4 points. Junior Nylah Lindley had 3 points. Senior Kate Womack and sophomore Jesmine Taylor had 1 point each. The Lady Cats are now 1-4 for the season. The Lady Cats will play in the tournament’s Silver Bracket consolation final Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the New Bells High School Gym.
PJC President and Staff Receive Texas Pathways Award in San Antonio
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center
Public Information Services
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.
