Lady Cats Volleyball Team Plays at Paris on Tuesday Game Day
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team is back on the court on this Tuesday game day (August 27). The Lady Cats will have a non-district game against Paris on the road. The schedule calls for a JV game at 4:30 p.m. and a varsity game at 5:30 p.m. Paris does not have a freshmen team. The Lady Cats varsity comes into the contest with a season record of 14-8. The Lady Cats are coming off of a fourth place finish at an Edgewood tournament last Thursday and Saturday. They ended the tourney with losses to last year’s Class A State Champion Neches and to tournament host Edgewood. This is the Lady Cats only match this week. They have an open date on Friday.
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra Comments on Wildcats Defense and Wakeland’s Offense
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra said he liked what he saw from his defense during last Thursday’s (August 22) scrimmage. He said his #1 unit did a good job while his #2’s answered a lot of his questions and stepped up. Coach Guerra said his defenders played fast and aggressive. He said the defense is right where it needs to be right now. He said Frisco Wakeland has a lot of offensive weapons. They feature senior quarterback Dylan Laible who Coach Guerra said throws well. He added Laible doesn’t make mistakes and makes good decisions. He said their backs run hard. The Wolverines also return talented wide receiver Kevin Rychel. Last year the Wildcats held the Wolverines to just 39 yards rushing. Coach Guerra also remembers that Wakeland did hit some long passes against the Wildcats. He said he is telling his defenders that they need to play fast and aggressive again Friday. Coach Guerra said he is also asking for second and third effort and he wants defenders to create turnovers.
With Season Opener Coming Up, Wildcats OC Talks About His Offense and Wakeland’s Defense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young weighed in on the Wildcats offense and the Frisco Wakeland defense that will collide Friday night (August 30) at the season opener at Gerald Prim Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Concerning last Thursday’s scrimmage at Liberty-Eylau, Coach Young said he liked the execution by the Wildcats offense and how well they communicated. He noted only a couple of busts where plays were not run properly and he liked the pace of the offense. Coach Young said he was pleased by the play of quarterback Kaden Wallace. He said he liked the direction the offensive line was headed. He said center Steven Jonaitis was physical. Coach Young said the line is getting good leadership from right guard Alfredo Olavide and right tackle Giovanni Pizano. He said backup guard Ryan Hammons is making strides, Coach Young said left guard Raydon McCormack has made himself part of a three player rotation. He said Chandler Leo and Somjai Pryor are part of the rotation at left tackle. Coach Young said he expects much bigger participation Friday from running backs Chock Sims and Caden Davis. They only had a few plays during the scrimmage. He said he is also hoping for development from back ups J.J. Hall and Jaden Janway. Coach Young said Kylan Wade made a good catch during the scrimmage. He said receiver Landry Meskimen was physical and he said Bryant Sanchez did a good job catching a touchdown pass. Coach Youing said he would have liked more yards and touchdowns but he said lots of players got to participate, Concerning Wakeland’s defense, Coach Young said they have a lot of numbers and their coaches just keep rolling players in. He said they are aggressive and they play fast. Coach Young said the Wolverines give you a lot of looks in the secondary while up front they are more vanilla. He said they play hard for 48 minutes and just keep plugging away. Coach Young said they kept the game close last year all the way to the end. He said keys for the offense would be execution and taking care of the ball.
PJC Employees Receive Service Pins
Fall convocation was held recently as Paris Junior College welcomed faculty to campus in preparation for the fall semester that began August 26. One of the highlights of a day of meetings and training was recognition of faculty and staff for their time of service at the college.
Receiving service awards included:
Ten year service pins were awarded to English Instructor Dr. Marian Ellis, Plant Operations and Maintenance Secretary Tina Ruckman, Testing Center Clerk Sheila Kyle, and Mathematics Instructor Lana Steich, Campus Police Chief Shane Boatwright and Custodian Carolyn Ellis.
Fifteen year pins were awarded to Economics Instructor Jeffrey Tarrant, Spanish Instructor Mayra Cummings, Biology Instructor Dr. Jack Brown, Mathematics Instructor Mallie Hood, Speech Instructor Alex Peevy, Director of Nursing Stephanie Parker, and Building Mechanics Paul Chappel and Randy Johnson.
Honored with 20 year pins were Mathematics Instructor Jeff Norris and English Instructor Dr. Ken Haley.
Pins for twenty-five years of service went to PJC-Greenville Center Secretary Deanna Hutchinson, Library Services Clerk Susan Ingram, Human Resources Coordinator Peggy Callaway, Post Office Clerk Ricky Woods, and Biology Instructor Jason Taylor.
Receiving 30-year pins were Jewelry Technology Instructor Shannon Calloway, Testing Center Coordinator Callie Thompson, and Athletics & Kinesiology Secretary Stephanie Booker.
Thirty-five year pins were received by English Instructor Diann Mason, Information Technology EX Coordinator Mary Mims, and Office of the President Executive Secretary Pam Bennett.
PJC Board of Regents Approves Tax Rate, Budget
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents held a public hearing on the proposed tax rate and the 2019-2020 budget. No public comment was received.
After adjourning the public hearing, the Regents went into the regular meeting and gave formal approval to the tax rate of $0.084/$100 valuation, a reduction from the previous year’s rate of $0.85, and the 2019-2020 budget.
The 2019-2020 PJC budget will be $36,320,422, up $1.7 million from last year. This reflects an increase in tuition and fee revenue, with seven new positions added including three deans, additional faculty and one new campus police officer.
In other business, the Regents:
• Approved a policy requiring a property deposit fee of zero. Procedures to collect damages for destruction of property from students continue to work without the need of a deposit.
• Accepted the Certified Tax Rolls of $3.1 billion for property taxable by Paris Junior College, as presented by the Lamar County Chief Appraiser. Last year’s amount was $3.4 billion; the change reflects an increase to $438,086,442 million in property values frozen for those 65 and older and those who are disabled.
“It’s very confusing the way they backed out that $438 million in property value that’s frozen,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “The amount of taxes attributable to that frozen amount is $339,000. It’s complicated because of the way they back it out and then add taxes back in.”
• Approved a transfer of $1 million to the Facilities Renewals and Replacements Fund, to address such needs as upgrades to the campus HVAC system.
• Adopted a change to the 2019-2020 Academic Calendar to reflect a change to the start of Winter Break – from Dec. 13 to Dec. 17. Graduation will still be on Dec. 13, but the college will remain open through Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 and then close until Jan. 2, 2020.
• Received the Annual Licensure Report from Vice President of Workforce Development John Spradling.
• Approved an amendment to the 2013 Campbell Soup Tax Abatement to lower the number of employees from 57 to 54 and the amount of new equipment from $46 million to $41.6 million. The Regents also approved termination of the agreement, after amending it.
• Moved the September Board of Regents Meeting from September 23 to September 30 due to scheduling
• An early report on fall enrollment shows that the current head count is 4,795. Registration continues through the final week of August.
• Accepted the employment of Instructor of Biology Jeanmarie Stiles, Instructor of Economics Mike McCoy, Instructor/Coordinator Medical Records Coding Jennifer Washington, Instructor of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Christopher Bardrick, Instructor of Mathematics Charla Holzbog, Instructor of Jewelry/Gemology/CAD Arby Magill, and Instructor of Welding Johnny Glasco.
Also accepted employment of Instructors of Licensed Vocational Nursing Dwana Hollidai and Jenny Sullivan, Student Recruiter/Academic Advisor Misty McMikel, Student Success Coach/Financial Aid Advisor Angela Ellis, Student Success Coach/ADA Coordinator Ansley Hoskins, Assistant Baseball Coach Greg May, and effective Jan. 2020, Instructor of Licensed Vocational Nursing Danielle Gerhardt-Gillbreath; the resignations of Talent Search Advisor Jessica Newman and Upward Bound Coordinator Kreagan Scott; and the retirement of Instructor of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Charlie Hodgkiss, effective Aug. 31.
• Approved purchase of the land under the Recreation Center.
Sulphur Springs City Council Aug. 30, 2019 Meeting Agenda
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
12:00 P.M. (NOON) AUGUST 30, 2019
A special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Friday, August 30, 2019, at 201 North Davis Street. The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Conduct a Public Hearing for the proposed tax increase.
- Adjourn.
Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild Plans for Major Quilt Show in Sulphur Springs
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild meets monthly on the 4th Monday to share and discuss ongoing projects of the club, and of individual members. The August 26, 2019 meeting dealt largely with final plans for the annual Quilt Show to be held in Sulphur Springs at The Roc on Friday September 20 and Saturday September 21, 2019. About 40 members were present. This will be the 20th annual show sponsored by the non-profit charitable organization. Final plans were discussed and duties of the members were assigned during the meeting. The fundraiser ‘raffle quilt’ was shown, and it was reported that already, more than 700 tickets have been sold at $1 each, available from guild members and at the door of the Show. The Show will be held from 9am til 5pm on September 20 and from 9am til 3pm on September 21. Cost to enter the Show is $5 person per day, with children age 12 and under admitted free.
Wilma Moss stated that over 140 quilts will be hung, with more displayed on the upper railing of The Roc. The quilts will already have been judged and tagged before the public is admitted on Friday. Brenda Jeschke, an award-winning quilter, instructor and judge plans programs and demonstrations onstage during the Show. Quilting vendors, food sales, door prizes and children’s activities will also be part of the 2-day Show.
This table reflects the charitable origins of the Quilt Guild. Individual members still produce quilted “comfort” items for the benefit of persons who are in local hospitals as well as the Child Advocacy Center. In the lower part of the photo, pieced tops have been created by members. The finished products are shown in the upper part of the photo, after having been quilted by those with quilting machines. This work is done and donation of the comfort quilts is made monthly to a variety of facilities, due to the generous work of Quilt Guild members. Not shown are “Veterans Quilts” which are often patriotic in nature, and donated to VA facilities.
Cumby City Council To Discuss 2 Resignations, And Hold Public Hearings For 2019-2020 Tax Rate, Budget
Cumby City Council has scheduled a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at City Hall, 100 East Main St., to discuss and consider accepting resignations from two council members and to hold public hearings for the proposed budget and tax rate.
Resignations to be considered are those of Mayor Cody Talley and Alderman 2 Kristen Thompson. The council will then have to determine what to do regarding those seats.
Of the four positions on the Nov. 5 City Council Election Ballot, the mayor’s race is the only one to draw a challenger.
Incumbent Place 1 Alderman Mayor Pro Tem Doug Simmerman, who serves on the mayor pro tem, and Ryan Horne are both seeking election as mayor for the city of Cumby.
Incumbent Betty McCarter is unchallenged for Alderman Place 4, just as incumbent Julie Morris is unchallenged for Alderman Place 5 and Guy Butler for Place 3.
The council is slated to receive a report, discuss and conduct the first hearing for the proposed 2019-2020 tax rate. A public hearing and discussion will also be held and the council will be asked to consider the proposed 2019-2020 budget Tuesday evening.
The agenda also calls for discussion of an employee handbook.
The council may enter into executive session for any of the above items which meets the terms of Texas Government Code, Section 551, allowing closed discussion by the council. If any action is to be taken following executive session, the council will be required to resume the open session to do so.
SSISD Substitute Teacher Orientation Planned
Sulphur Springs ISD will be conducting a Substitute Teacher Orientation this Friday, August 30th , at the SSISD Administration Board Room located at 631 Connally Street. The training will start at 9:00 am and will last
approximately two hours.
This orientation is required for anyone new that wants to be a substitute teacher for SSISD. This training is offered on this date and again in January. For more information contact Tawlene Lampp at 903-885-2153.
CHRISTUS ‘Women’s Center’ Now Named ‘The Ruth and Jack Gillis Women’s Center’
According to Meredith Caddell, CEO of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, the official announcement of the naming of the proposed Women’s Center was made Monday August 26, 2019 during a reception held in the hospital’s lobby. It is now the Ruth and Jack Gillis Women’s Center. Construction will begin soon within the hospital’s first floor.
In a story on KSST News dating from January 2019, Caddell shared a bit of the hospital’s vision for the Women’s Center. She stated “the 3-D Mammography machine, representing a $500,000 purchase, is a state-of-the–art screening technology which will provide greater accuracy of detection of breast tissue abnormalities. Use of the 3-D machine also reduces call-backs (or recalls) of the patient to the facility when screening views require additional images. So, while the patient is still the suite, images can be examined and re-screenings done. If biopsy is needed, this can also be performed during the same visit. Because mammograms are the first step in breast cancer screenings, the combination of 3-D Mammography, current 2-D technology, Breast Ultrasound (or sonogram) screenings and Bone Density screenings make up a powerful array of services for women. The Women’s Center will offer these services and more and has been the vision of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation. As plans go forward for construction of the Ruth and Jack Gillis Women’s Center, other “naming opportunities” will exist for various portions of the facility, including rooms and suites inside the Center. Find out more by calling Meredith Caddell at 903-438-4799 or see the hopkins county healthcare foundation facebook page.
