Drink Provider, Renewal Of Legal Retainer Approved By SSISD Trustees
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees during a special meeting this week approved a beverage provider contract and renewed membership in a legal retainer program.
Beverage Agreement
Coca-Cola Bottling Company will be the district’s beverage provider. The district-wide contract was up for renewal this year, so bids were sought. Coca-Cola was the only company to submit a bid which is comparable to the contract the district has had with the company for the past 5 years, reported SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw
SSISD had the option of contracting with the company for 5 or 7 years. An additional $5,000 upfront from Coca-Cola was cited as the prime advantage of a 7-year contract as opposed to a 5-year contract.
The contract is to start Oct. 1, 2019 and continues through Sept 30, 2026. It can be terminated at any time if the vendor ceases to meet the provisions of the contract and no resolution can be reached, according to McGraw.
Trustees during the Sept. 30 meeting agreed to finalize contract negotiations with Coca-Cola as the district’s beverage provider.
Legal Retainer
Trustees also approved renewing SSISD’s annual membership in Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle, P.C., retainer program.
The $1,000 per year fee allows school officials to: consult with attorneys over the phone on a day-to-day general and special education matters for no additional fee, reduced rates for legal work, in-services, Walsh Gallegos products such as the web-based Code of Conduct; free subscriptions to the the business’ bi-monthly general education newsletter and monthly special education news letter; and email updates about developments in education law.
SSISD would be required to pay an hourly rate of $230 per hour for associates licensed for less than 1 year, $240 an hour for associates licensed 1-2 years, $295 for associates licensed for more than 2 years, or $315 per hour for shareholders for time spent on research, opinion letters, office visits, board meetings and other general work.
More in-depth work, including document review, contract negotiations, grievances, non-renewal, review of construction documents, litigation, administrative appeals, will be charged at the hourly retainer rates plus expenses.
Without the retainer membership, the per hour fees would be same for associates licensed for two or fewer years, then increases to $315 an hour for associates licensed for more than two years and to $335 an hour for shareholders for any work, including calls, office visits, litigation, research, opinion letters and hearings, according to information provided to the superintendent.
Planning, Goals Assessment
SSISD trustees also participated in a work session which featured a strategic planning presentation by Betty Burks. The school board, superintendent and core administrators too collaborated on district goals during the Sept. 30 meeting.
2 Arrested Tuesday On Hopkins County Warrants
Two men were jailed locally Tuesday on Hopkins County felony.
Elijah Ray Loera, 34, of Caddo Mills was picked up at 1:25 p.m. at Denton County jail and transported by Deputy Melvin Jackson to Hopkins County jail, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Oct. 2 on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a credit or debit card abuse charge, according to jail reports.
Robert Demond McKenzie, 37, of Winnsboro turned himself in at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where he was escorted by Deputy Kevin Lester into the jail, according to arrest reports. McKenzie remained in the county jail Oct. 2 on the parole violation warrant, according to jail reports.
Lindale Squeezes Past Lady Cats Volleyball Team, 3-1 at SSHS Tuesday Night (Updated With Photos)
In a match that seemed closer than the 3-1 score, the Lindale Lady Eagles won a big district game over the Lady Cats Volleyball Team at Sulphur Springs High School Tuesday (October 1) night. The Lady Cats won the first set, 25-22 only to see the Lady Eagles take the next three, 25-16, 31-29 and 25-23. Perhaps the key set was the seesaw third. Each team survived three set points before Lindale finally was able to win back to back points. The Lady Cats has a solid chance to even the match at 2 sets apiece in set four. The Lady Cats led down the stretch, 23-20 before the Lady Eagles took five straight points to wrap up the set and the match. The loss came despite a solid game, perhaps her best as a Lady Cat, by Paris Pickett. Pickett was effective serving and came up with a bunch of digs to keep plays alive. Pickett ended up with 8 digs, a total equaled by Sadie Washburn and Sydney Washburn. Sadie had a team high 20 kills. Sydney had 6 kills and had a pair of service aces. Erika VanBenthem had 5 kills. Brooklyn Burnside and Nylah Lindley had 3 kills apiece. Lindale improves to 2-0 in district play and they are 21-12 for the season. The Lady Cats are 1-1 in district play and 19-12 for the season. The Lady Cats play next at Greenville, 2-0 in district play, Friday at 5 p.m.
Photos provided by Sheri Looney.
Owens Comments on Bye Week, His Wildcats and Forney
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens, at his weekly media gathering Wednesday morning before Friday’s game at Forney, said last week’s bye week was pretty good. He said the team had some good practices, some players were able to rest up and some grade issues got looked at. Actually he said, if given a choice, he would have preferred to get back on the field and play last Friday. Coach Owens said everyone is ready to get a W. He said if for no other reason, to get some pay off for all the hard work. Concerning Forney, Coach Owens said they are big and have a couple of quick skill kids. He said Forney seems to be working to figure out who they are. He said they have gotten progressively better each week. Coach Owens and other Wildcats’ coaches scouted Forney’s game last Friday at Royse City. Coach Owens said he also saw some of the Corsicana and North Forney game. Coach Owens said he is impressed with the Forney quarterback (senior Campbell Anderson) calling him perhaps the best runner on the team. He said Forney also completed several long passes against the Royse City defense. Last year Forney was very successful against the Wildcats running behind the blocking of a big tight end. They still do that but Coach Owens said the current tight end is not as skilled yet as last year’s. He said Forney has a big offensive line. Coach Owens said the Jackrabbits will show you different defensive fronts. He is really impressed with one of the Forney outside linebackers who is undersized but blitzes very effectively (senior Westin Beeman). Coach Owens said one of the Jackrabbit safeties and one of their inside linebackers also really impressed him on tape. The Jackrabbits also have a big defensive line. Coach Owens said it may come down more to us rather than Forney. He said the Wildcats need to take care of business, be consistent, take care of the football and tackle well. Last year’s game was a scoring fest with the Wildcats winning, 56-47 at The Prim. Coach Owens said he would settle for scoring one more point than Forney Friday night.
Saltillo Lions Win Cross Country Meet in Mount Pleasant Saturday and Lady Lions are Third
The Saltillo Lions won first place and the Saltillo Lady Lions were third at the Titus County Fair Cross Country Meet held last Saturday (September 28). For the Lions, Garret Tarver took 1st at the meet with a time of 15:58. Dillon Beadle was 7th, Jayden Holloway was 8th, Gunner Tarver was 11th, Coy Collins was 17th, Beckham Hoover was 20th and Andrew Redburn was 47th. For the Lady Lions, Yadira Alonzo was 16th, Reagan Speir was 19th, Kristina Wade was 31st, Brianna Tawil was 37th, McKensa Morris was 53rd, Chandler Bain was 73rd and Ofelia Cabrera was 79th.
Dike Man Reportedly Tried To Kick In An Apartment Door While Intoxicated
A 28-year-old Dike man was arrested Tuesday following a disturbance on Freeman Street.
Sulphur Springs police responded at 1:23 p.m. Oct. 1 to a complaint of a disturbance in which a male was reportedly trying to kick in an apartment door on Freeman Street.
Upon arrival, officers reported the man displayed signs of impairment, including walking slowly. He allegedly admitted to using illegal narcotics and was uncooperative with standard field sobriety testing instruction given to him in written form because of his audible disability, according to arrest reports.
The man was taken into custody and jailed for public intoxication. He was released from jail on the charge Wednesday, according to jail reports.
Curb And Sidewalk Ordinances Receive City Council Approval
Sulphur Springs City Council approved on second and final reading Tuesday night proposed changes to ordinances prohibiting curbside parking at intersections and use of certain wheeled conveyances in certain areas of town.
Curb Parking
Ordinance No. 2759 amends Chapter 25 of the Code of Ordinances to include Section 25-82.1, which prohibits curbside parking within 30 feet of any intersection inside the city limits.
The motion receive unanimous approval without further discussion.
Sidewalk Ordinance
Ordinance No. 2760 changes the title of Chapter 25, Article IV, to “Bicycles, Scooters and other wheeled conveyances” and expands the wheeled items prohibited from use on sidewalks in commercially zoned areas of the city to include skateboards, scooters and other similar devices.
Councilwoman Erica Armstrong noted there had been “a terrible misunderstanding” among some community members regarding this proposed change.
“I would like to request too, just because we have literally taken a beating over this for no reason, that it be publicly announced that it is for commercial property only and not residential properties. We are not forcing children to ride their skateboard in the street. It is only for commercial properties,” Armstrong said.
“Yes, it is only for commercially zoned properties,” City Attorney Jim McLeroy affirmed.
“I think there was just some kind of misconception about what exactly that ordinance was,” Armstrong said.
McLeroy pointed out that the city ordinance is continue as currently in place as to what areas it affects. It simply expands the items to include skateboards, scooters, in-line skates and other similar devices among the wheeled conveyances prohibited from use on sidewalks in commercially zoned areas, including downtown.
Councilman Jimmy Lucas asked if signs are required to be posted before the new ordinance could be enforced in commercially zoned areas.
“We are going to put signs up before fines are effective. We are going to put signs up, in the downtown area primarily, I think, but they may wind up on some commercially zoned properties like Walmart and places like that,” McLeroy said.
Armstrong noted some privately owned commercial properties already have signs up. McLeroy said it may be suggested in the future that the ordinance be referred to when signs are placed on commercially zoned properties in the future.
The sidewalk ordinance amendment received unanimous approve from the City Council at the Oct. 1 meeting.
Hopkins County United Way Has a Pair of Chairs for the 2019 ‘Be a Hero’ Campaign
A well-recognized local couple is heading up the United Way campaign, and meeting very few strangers along the way! Bill and Beverly Owens enthusiastically agreed to the appointment and seized the opportunity to promote the good that United Way does for Hopkins County residents. During a KSST Good Morning Show interview, they stated, “we are thrilled to announce, after the first Report Meeting, pledges total $35,721.80 which is 21% of our goal of $165,000.! Campaign percent totals can be seen on the digital billboard near Chili’s, thanks to Chaney and Craig Johnson. Percent totals are also on the traditional Campaign thermometer near the fire station on Gilmer Street, across from CVS”.
The projected goal is reached through donations and pledges from individuals, clubs, organizations, business and industry in Hopkins County. “If you are not contacted by a United Way worker and you’d like to donate, please contact one of us, or call Susan Berning, Executive Secretary of the Hopkins County United Way. Her contact number is 903-243-4066. Or you can mail a check with a donation of any size to Campaign Headquarters, P.O. Box 735, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482. This year’s goal will be divided among 22 selected local non-profits providing services to the needy, handicapped and underprivileged of of Hopkins County”.
Bill and Beverly also mentioned that at weekly report meetings, pledges and donations are turned in by campaign workers. The next one is set for Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce office at 110 Main St. Campaign workers, please note the change in location from the Texas AgriLife Extension office to the Chamber office for the October 8 meeting.
Beverly works at Alliance Bank and is the 2018/2019 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce “Woman of the Year”. Bill is General Manager of Jay Hodge Chevrolet in Sulphur Springs, a company named the Chamber’s Large Business of the Year. The couple has raised their family in Sulphur Springs and are members of Trinity Harvest Church and the Trinity Harvest Singers.
What teachers should know about deducting out-of-pocket classroom expenses
Now that fall is here and school has started, many teachers are dipping into their own pockets to buy classroom supplies. Doing this throughout the year can add up fast. Fortunately, eligible educators may be able to defray qualified expenses they paid in 2019 when they file their tax return in 2020.
Educators who work in schools may qualify to deduct up to $250 of unreimbursed expenses. That amount goes up to $500 if two qualified educators are married and file a joint return. However, neither spouse can deduct more than $250 of his or her qualified expenses when they file.
Taxpayers qualify for this deduction if they:
- Teach any grade from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
- Are a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide.
- Work at least 900 hours during the school year.
- Work in a school that provides elementary or secondary education.
Qualified expenses include:
- Professional development courses.
- Books.
- Supplies.
- Computer equipment including related software and services.
- Supplementary materials.
- Athletic supplies only for health and physical education.
Eligible taxpayers can claim this deduction when they file their taxes. The IRS encourages teachers to consider using tax software to help guide them through the process of claiming the deduction.
Many teachers may qualify to use online software for free with IRS Free File.
