Regional Community College Meeting Hosted by PJC
Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center
Public Information Services
A TC3 Texas Community College Consortium board meeting was held at the PJC-Greenville Center campus.
The Consortium was originally formed by five East Texas community colleges and has now grown to seven. Bill Schultz is Executive Director of the consortium. Dr. Pamela Anglin, President of Paris Junior College, welcomed officials from several community colleges in the region to the meeting.
TC3 is a consortium of small and medium sized community colleges who formed the consortium to gain economies of scale in the implementation of a new ERP System including student information and financial information software.
The Consortium collaborates in the implementation of other technology such as Blackboard, our Learning Management System, and receives lower pricing due to the size of the Consortium in student numbers.
The group discussed the implementation of shared services over the next two years to further reduce operational costs at the member colleges.
Officials from several East Texas area community colleges met at the Paris Junior College-Greenville Center campus to discuss shared services being planned by the TC3 Community College Consortium. Board members attending included, from left: Bill Schultz, Executive Director TC3, Dr. Mike Simon, Angelina College President, Dr. Pam Anglin, PJC President, Mike Dundei, Texarkana College IT Director, Dr. Pam Boehm, Hill College President, Dr. Brenda Kays, Kilgore College President, Dr. Ron Clinton, Northeast Texas Community College President.
Lady Cats Volleyball Opens Regular Season Against Sherman and North Lamar Tuesday
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team opens the regular season with a tri-match against Sherman and North Lamar at North Lamar in Paris on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
The matches mark the head coaching debut for Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner. Dorner was a high school volleyball standout at Mount Vernon.
The Lady Cats opened up against Sherman at 3 p.m. Then, they face North Lamar at 5 p.m. The Lady Cats won a match against both teams at last year’s tri-match held in Sherman.
The Lady Cats have five returners off of last year’s team: junior Sadie Washburn, senior Aubreigh Oliver, senior Kate Womack, junior Erika VanBenthem and senior Sydney Washburn.
Later this week, the Lady Cats will play in a Garland ISD tournament on Friday and Saturday.
Caitlyn Williams Scholarship Winner
Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personal gives an annual scholarship to a graduating senior in Hopkins or Rains County who plans to pursue a degree in education. The 2019 recipient was Caitlyn Williams, a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School. Caitlyn will begin her pursuit of an elementary education degree at Baylor University in just a few short weeks. She is pictured here with Tommy Long, President of Hopkins-Rains RSP and Bonnie Burtch, Scholarship chair.
Franklin County Sheriff Ricky Jones Elected SAT’s Sergeant-At-Arms
Franklin County Sheriff Ricky Jones was elected Sergeant-At-Arms of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas at their 141st Annual Training Conference held last week in San Antonio.
Sheriff Jones has served as sheriff of Franklin County since 2013. He distinguishes himself in his county and throughout the State as he assumes this leadership role in the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas.
The Sheriffs’’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation. Sheriffs of Texas met courthouse. The meeting was called to order by McLennan County Sheriff Sol Ross.
The Sheriffs of Texas began annual training conferences in 1878. These training conferences today are the largest composite gathering of law enforcement officers in Texas. Sheriffs and other county and local law enforcement officers, federal and state officers, and major industry security personnel attend.
More than 1,500 participants were in attendance at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, where they heard speakers, had opportunities for significant and timely training sessions, and visited more than 240 exhibits showcasing some of the latest technology in law enforcement.
In addition to the annual training conferences, the Association conducts training throughout the year for law enforcement officers. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas serves as a liaison with federal, state, county, and municipal agencies and associations to promote cooperation, training, education and more efficient services to the citizens of Texas.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested At Courthouse After Bond Revoked
A 33-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody at 4 p.m. at the Hopkins County Courthouse and jailed. Jeremy Dean Harris’ bond was revoked on a manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. The original offense was alleged to have occurred on Oct. 28, 2018, according to arrest reports.
HCSO: Como Woman Bit Off Tip Of Husband’s Nose After He Bit Her Thumbs
A domestic disturbance between a Como couple Monday night ended with the tip of the man’s nose being bitten off. Both the 43-year-old man and his 25-year-old wife were jailed for assault, according to arrest reports.
Kenneth Wayne Higdon 
Danielle Marie Higdon
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Patterson was dispatched at 7:56 p.m. Aug. 5, 2020 to an FM 1567 east residence in which a man’s nose was reported to have been bitten off during a disturbance.
Upon arrival, Patterson reported seeing a male who was indeed missing the tip of his nose. Kenneth Higdon alleged his wife, Danielle Marie Higdon, had bitten his nose after he confronted her about communications on Facebook with a male she had previously worked with.
Danielle Higdon allegedly admitted to the deputy that she bit Kenneth Higdon’s nose during the confrontation because he was biting her thumbs. Patterson, in arrest reports, noted the woman’s thumbs did have red marks on them and that she had a large scratch mark on her left arm. She claimed her husband had displayed a handgun during the initial argument.
Both the man and woman admitted they had been consuming alcohol that evening, specifically vodka and Red Bull mixed drinks.
Patterson reported finding a 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol in the living room area of the travel trailer where the pair reside. Kenneth Hidgdon told Patterson he had been on parole for two years; a records check confirmed he had two felony convictions, resulting in a felony charge for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Danielle and Kenneth Hidgon were also both charged with misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury to a family member. A protective order was also requested on Mr. Hidgon’s behalf.
Wildcats Team Tennis Opens the Season With Home Losses to Sherman and Denison
The Wildcats Team Tennis squad opened the regular season with losses to Sherman and Denison at the Wildcat Tennis Center Monday (August 5). Ironically, the scored were exactly the same as last year.
In the morning, the Wildcats lost a very close match, 10-9 to Sherman. In the afternoon, the Wildcats lost to Denison, 12-7. Against Sherman the Wildcats got two wins in doubles in seven matches. The mixed doubles team of Jeauxleigh Cantu and Jonah Kirkpatrick bested the Bearcats, 8-0. The girls doubles team of Paige Miesse and Trynity Luckett won 8-7 taking a tiebreaker. The Wildcats won seven of twelve singles matches. Boys singles winners were Kirkpatrick, 8-7 with tiebreaker, Logan Schumacher, 9-7, and Brandon Dittrich, 8-6. Girls singles winners were Cantu, 8-1, Miesse, 8-6, Savannah Lilley, 8-2 and Luckett, 8-2.
In the afternoon loss to the Yellow Jackets, the Wildcats won three doubles matches. In mixed doubles, Cantu and Kirkpatrick again won 8-0. The boys doubles team of Schumacher and Aaron Lucas won 8-4. The girls doubles team of Miesse and Luckett won 8-7 winning the tiebreaker. In boys singles, Kirkpatrick won 8-0 and Lucas won. Girls singles winners were Cantu and Miesse. The Wildcats, now 0-2 for the season, play at McKinney Boyd starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Three Hopkins County Teams Are Still Alive in DSWS Despite a Pair of Losses on Monday
In action Monday (August 5) at the Dixie Softball World Series at Coleman Park in Sulphur Springs, the Hopkins County Ponytails staved off elimination with a dramatic 2-1 win over Virginia. Both the Hopkins County Angels and Debs suffered their first losses in the World Series. For the local Ponytails, things looked bleak Monday when Virginia broke open a scoreless pitchers duel with a big run in the top of the fifth inning. The Hopkins County Ponytails got a huge triple that scored two runs and gave them a walk off, 2-1 win in six innings. The Hopkins County Angels took their first loss at the hands of Alabama, 9-2. Alabama scored four second inning runs and five more in the third to go up 9-0. The local Angels scored two in the top of the fifth. For the Hopkins County Debs, they ran into the buzz saw that is South Carolina and absorbed a 26-0 loss. There are now three clear undefeated favorites with three more teams in each age group with one loss. For the Angels, Alabama is 4-0 in the World Series. They play South Carolina, 3-1 Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Field 3. The Hopkins County Angels, 2-1, play Virginia, also 2-1 in an elimination game Tuesday at 6 p.m. on Field 3. In Ponytails play, Alabama is 4-0. They face Tennessee, 2-1 Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Field 1. The Hopkins County Ponytails, 2-1 face South Carolina, also 2-1 in an elimination game Tuesday at 6 p.m. on Field 1. In Debs action, South Carolina is 3-0. They play Louisiana, 2-1 Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Field 5. The Hopkins County Debs, 2-1 have a rematch with Tennessee, 3-1 Tuesday at 6 p.m. on Field 5. Hopkins County came from behind Sunday night to defeat Tennessee, 5-4 scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth and then closing the door in the top of the seventh. Play will wrap up in the Dixie Softball World Series on Wednesday night.
Grand Jury Signs 40 Indictments During August Court Session
The Hopkins County Grand Jury during the August session signed at least 40 indictments naming at least 32 different individuals in the charges, including four individuals accused of more than one offense and in other instances more than one person implicated in the same offense.
The majority of the indictments were for alleged controlled substance charges. The rest range from abandoning or endangering a child and assault of a family or household member that impedes breathing to unauthorized use of a vehicle, sex offender failure in duty to register, tampering with evidence and theft offenses.
Indicted for unauthorized use of a vehicle was Michael Allen Coker, 51, of Sulphur Springs. Coker was arrested on May 28 by a state trooper, who alleged he had stopped Coker for speeding on Interstate 30 and a records check showed the car Coker was driving had been reported to Paris police as stolen. Paris police were contacted. A Paris Police Department detective said the owner of the car reportedly left it running while he went inside a Paris store; the car was missing when he walked back outside, the trooper alleged in the May arrest reports. Coker remained in the county jail Monday, Aug. 5; his bond on the stolen vehicle charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
Vincent Raymond Davis, 52, of Sulphur Springs was indicted during the Aug. 1 grand jury session for failure to comply with sex offender duty to register. Davis was taken into custody and held in Tarrant County jail on the charge until a Hopkins County deputy transported him to Hopkins County jail on July 8. The offense was alleged to have occurred on June 11, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Aug. 5, in lieu of $100,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports
Indicted for abandoning or endangering a child was Patrick Mondrell Hood, 45, of Sulphur Springs. Hood was arrested July 9 on a warrant alleging the charge. The warrant was obtained following an investigation by Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Special Crimes Unit investigators and Child Protective Services personnel. Hood remained in the county jail Monday, Aug. 5. Bond on the charge was set at $15,000, according to jail reports.
Thea Colynn Patterson, 18, of Sulphur Springs was indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. She was one of five individuals arrested after deputies found suspected methamphetamine, Ecstasy pills, marijuana and drug paraphernalia during a May 20 traffic stop on State Highway 11. In the grass next to the vehicle, the deputy reported finding a clear glass pipe of the kind commonly used for smoking meth in the grass next to the vehicle; Patterson later claimed the pipe, resulting in the tampering charge, police alleged in arrest reports. She was released from jail on $10,000 bond on the tampering charge on May 27, according to jail reports.
Indicted for theft of property valued at $2,500 or more but less than $30,000 was Heriberto Reyes. The 33-year-old Jonesboro, Arkansas man was arrested May 16 and released from jail later that day on $5,000 bond on the charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
He was reportedly hauling a cargo trailer; a records check using its identification number showed it had been reported to Benton, Arkansas authorities in 2017 as stolen, a police detective said following Reyes’ arrest. Reyes allegedly told police he bought the trailer about a month before from an individual in Memphis. He reportedly had in his possession a “certificate of origin” for the trailer, but it was not registered to him, according to police reports.
Nathaniel Dion Smith Jr. was indicted for possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana. Special Crimes Unit and the local SWAT Team assisted Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Team in serving a search warrant at a Drexel Drive residence on Nov. 8, 2018. During the search, a pistol, approximately $10,000 in US currency and marijuana were allegedly found at the location. The search came as a result of a Texas DPS investigation concerning marijuana being shipped from Fresno, California to be sold in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Smith, 29 at the time, was arrested at the location on a marijuana possession charge, according to reports following the 2018 arrest. The Sulphur Springs man was released from jail on $10,000 bond on the charge on Nov. 9, 2018, according to jail reports.
Indicted for failure to comply with sex offender’s duty to register was Vernon Vincent Vaughan III. A sheriff’s investigator alleged the 42-year-old Sulphur Springs man, a convicted sex offender, did not report his address change with his primary registration authority, the sheriff’s office, 7 days prior to a new change of address, as required by Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedures. The investigator located Vaughan on July 8 on West Industrial Drive, allegedly his new address, and arrested him. He remained in Hopkins County jail Aug. 5; bond on the charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Amanda Lanell Shanks was indicted on six separate charges: two for manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; and one each for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, possession of 4 grams of more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and prohibited substance or item in a correctional, civic or community facility. The 31-year-old woman has remained in the county jail since her arrest May 12 on the charges.
She was reportedly the front seat passenger in a vehicle stopped by police around 2:45 a.m. May 12 on East Industrial Drive. Shanks was allegedly seen reaching into the floorboard and looking around, as if concealing something, as the car stopped, officers alleged in arrest reports. A female jailer was requested to conducted a search of Shanks; a bulge in her pants turned out to be a small black handbag containing a substance packaged in a form suspected to be a controlled substance. Shanks admitted the suspected substance was to be delivered to another person, police alleged in arrest reports. The substance tested negative for controlled substances; Shanks was arrested for having a simulated controlled substance, police alleged in reports. The manufacture or delivery warrants were added, along with the other charges she was indicted on in August.
Raymond Antonio Sheard 
Kayla Marie Sessums
Kayla Marie Sessums and Raymond Antonio Sheard were indicted for possession of more than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance. The pair was accused of having about 1.5 pound of THC product, marijuana packaged for sale and firearms when stopped Nov. 21, 2018, for a traffic violation on Interstate 30, according to arrest reports. Sessums was released from jail later that day; her bond was set at $30,000. Sheard was released from jail on $45,000 bond on Nov. 24, 2018, according to jail reports.
Also indicted was Gerardo Rubio Martinez on an assault of a family or household member that impeded breathing or circulation charge. He was accused of placing his hands around the neck of his 32-year-old girlfriend and applying continuous force for approximately 15 seconds, preventing her from breathing, police alleged in arrest reports. He was arrested June 22 and released from jail June 24 on $30,000 bond, according to jail reports.
The remained of the indictments were for controlled substance charges, including:
- Samantha Deann Lee and Eddie Malone — possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
- David Glen Self — possession of 4 grams of more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance.
- Timothy Alan Goss — possession of 4 grams ore more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
- Cameron Bain — possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
- Natalia Malia Kincaid — possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
- Cathy Sue Pichardo, Curtis Leroy Marler and Steffany Lynne Taylor — possession of 1 gram ore more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone.
- Martin Lee Contreras and John David McGee Jr. — possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone.
- Rebecca L. Maiello — two possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges.
- Kalen Reigh Halbert, Amanda Kay Burleson-Knutson, Marquise Alfredo Hernandez, Tracy Odell Marshall, Melissa Mask Roberson, Leobardo Sanchez, Daryl Christopher White, Mario Tremaine Small and Randy Lynn Webb — possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Upcoming Opportunities You Don’t want to Miss
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension provides numerous workshops, educational series, camps, one-shot programs, multi-county programs, newsletters, educational social media articles, newspaper columns, radio spots and individual consultations. Previously, a local media outlet would drop by the office asking if we had anything going on. That person now asks WHAT is coming up, rather that IF anything is coming up! We always have opportunities available for you! Below are a couple of upcoming opportunities you will want to jot down.
“Get a Taste for Reducing Food Waste”
Hopkins County has been selected as a pilot county for this four-lesson series, and the dates are just around the corner! Rather than spreading it out over a 4-week series, I will be presenting a condensed version on two dates (two lessons per day.) The goals of the program are:
- Participants will learn how much food they throw away at home.
- Participants will learn how to plan and prepare meals that minimize food waste.
- Participants will improve their ability to store foods to extend their life and quality.
- Participants will learn how to compost uneaten/spoiled food.
Participants will reduce the amount of money that is lost due to food waste.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in attending, there is no charge, but I do need to know how many plan to attend in order to make adequate preparations.
- What: Get a Taste for Reducing Food Waste series
- When: Monday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 15
- Time: 10 a.m.
- Where: Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200 West Houston St., Sulphur Springs
- Call: 903-885-3443 to reserve a seat
Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show
Vendor applications are now being taken for the 2019 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show. This is always one of the major attractions during the Fall Festival, and it provides a great opportunity for visitors to do some early Christmas shopping! There are a few guidelines to remember:
The Arts & Crafts Show will take place Oct.r 25 & 26, in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria, north entry way, and outdoor covered walkway. Set up will be Friday morning, October 25, from 7:15 to 10 a.m. The show is open to the pubic from 10 a.m. to p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. This show is for handmade/hand-crafted items only. Commercially-made items or commercial businesses will not be accepted. If you want to be a vendor in the commercial exhibit area, contact Blake Weir, 512-740-8618.
Here are a few other guidelines to consider:
- You will need to provide your own tables, chairs and display equipment.
- Electrical outlets are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please indicate on your application if you need electricity.
- Covered outdoor spaces are available.
- Arts & Crafts Show hours are: Friday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, October 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No early pack-up unless cleared with Coordinator (me).
- Those wishing to exhibit for one day only will be assigned an outdoor space.
- A confirmation letter, including directions to the facility, unloading and parking information will be sent to exhibitors after receipt of registration and payment.
- Indoor space sizes are 8 foot X 8 foot (single space) or 16 foot X 8 foot (double space). Outdoor covered spaces are larger. Prices vary according to location of spaces (indoors or outdoors), number of spaces requested, and age.
- The deadline to apply for a space is Oct. 9. Fee is required with completed application.
Contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 for details and to get an application.
Other upcoming events:
- Twogether in Texas marriage education workshop – Saturday, Aug. 17
- Planning meeting/luncheon for Master Wellness Volunteers, Family & Community Health Committees – Aug. 23
- Diabetes Support Group – Aug. 27
- Cooking Well for Healthy Blood Pressure – Sept. 9, 12, 16
- Cooing Well with Diabetes – Sept. 16, 19, 23, 26
Closing Thought
“I no longer listen to what people say – I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.” Winston Churchill
