Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center Nurse Aide Class Starts April 7
March 27, 2025 – The Continuing Education Department at the Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs Center is offering a nurse aide class from April 7 to May 28. The class and clinical will be from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday.
The course prepares entry level nursing assistants to achieve a level of knowledge, skills, and abilities essential to provide basic care to residents of long-term care facilities. Topics include resident’s rights, communication, safety, observation, reporting and assisting residents in maintaining basic comfort and safety. Course emphasis is on effective interaction with members of the health care team.
Applicants must have a valid state-issued photo ID and social security card. The names on both of these items must match. Applicants will also be required to fill out a background release form upon applying to be considered for this class.
For more information or to sign up, call 903-885-1232 or 903-782-0447, or email [email protected].
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Federal Programs at Paris Junior College Bring Local Success
March 27, 2025 – Paris High School senior Isaiah Hampton has racked up a lot of ink – both in print and digitally, thanks to his many impressive achievements over the last few years. What many people may not know is the help he received from two federal programs at Paris Junior College.
Hampton had been participating in PJC’s Educational Talent Search (ETS) and then applied to Upward Bound (UB) as a sophomore. Both programs are funded by the Department of Education and free to participants.
ETS identifies qualified youths in seventh through twelfth grade with potential for higher education to complete high school and go on. ETS may serve up to 778 students in twenty-six high schools and four junior high schools in Lamar, Red River, Fannin, Hunt, Delta, Hopkins, Franklin, and Titus counties.
UB offers a college-preparatory program for ninth through twelfth grades that promotes educational achievement for students from lower income families who would be the first in their household to receive a college degree. Students are accepted from the following schools: Avery, Chisum, Clarksville, Detroit, North Lamar, Paris, Prairiland, and Rivercrest. Ninety-two percent of students completing the UB program advance to a college or university.
“We want to see the students in Upward Bound use the services and resources the program has to offer to meet their higher education goals,” Barham said. “We’re super proud and excited for Isaiah and hope it makes more people excited about doing the program. We’re not gatekeepers, we want to open the eyes of students and parents to what can happen through Upward Bound.”
Last summer Hampton participated in UB’s summer program at PJC, which brings 86 students to live on campus for six weeks during the summer. There is also an academic year phase, providing a grade level appropriate college readiness curriculum, academic enrichment and group activities throughout the school year.
“It was a new experience because I was taking college classes at a college for the first time,” Hampton said. “It was delightful. Being in Upward Bound is an eye-opening experience to help students to know what college life is like, what the college course load is like and how to manage it. That is so fundamental for people who are moving on to college, it’s really your foundation before you go to college.”
It was during one of UB’s Saturday meetings that Barham told Hampton she was referring him to be invited to apply to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program, which led to his recent achievement in March when he was named as a QuestBridge National College Match out of over 25,500 initial applicants. Matched to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, he will receive a full four-year scholarship to attend with an estimated value of $410,000.
“Christi recommended me to the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program, and I received an invitation to apply. It precedes the national match program,” said Hampton. “It makes you six times more likely to be accepted to the match program, and when I was accepted to the college prep program as a junior, I was ecstatic. I applied to the College Match and became a finalist. I thought, ‘what was a kid from Paris, Texas going to hope to accomplish,’ and it was surreal. Then I got the email matching me to Brown University and it was sublime joy.”
Barham assisted him through the college scholarship process. Hampton is also one of 105 recipients of a 2025 Horatio Alger National Scholarship for $25,000, an annual award recognizing exceptional students, who, in the face of critical financial need and great hardship, remain committed to pursuing higher education. He has also twice been selected to perform with the Texas All-State small school choir in San Antonio and has served as one of 12 Crimestopper Ambassadors for the state of Texas.
Hampton plans to double major in chemistry and physics with plans to pursue postgraduate/professional school after Brown University. He is the second QuestBridge National Match scholar from the PJC Upward Bound program. A Chisum High School student matched with Yale University and graduated there last May.
“The UB staff are proud of Isaiah’s accomplishments and are excited about his future,” Barham.
“I wasn’t ranked a valedictorian or salutatorian, and people say you can’t get into a good college,” said Hampton, “but here I am changing that dynamic.”
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Dinner Bell for April 2, 2025
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
SPONSOR: Christus Health
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
The beginning of nuns and hospitals in Texas dates back to 1866 when the Bishop of Galveston wrote a contact in France for help!
Three women of the new congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word sailed for Galveston and established Charity Infirmary (renamed St. Mary’s Infirmary). From Galveston to San Antonio three sisters established Santa Rosa Hospital in 1869 as Cholera was ravaging that area of Texas. In 1937, 16 sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth order arrived in Tyler to establish Mother Frances Hospital. It opened early to aid the victims of the New London tragedy that occurred in nearby Rusk County.
A merger of the Catholic health care system in Houston, San Antonio and Gaveston created Christus Health on January 28, 1999. In 2016 Christus became a major presence in East Texas by merging with Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and Clinic.
In July 2016 the Hopkins County Hospital District and Christus Health formed an alliance in which Christus became the leasing entity of the hospital building, its employees and the medical services of the hospital.
Christus Health has been a partner with Dinner Bell Ministry since 2017 serving many times yearly. In 2025, Christus will join Dinner Bell Ministry 15 times to feed those who need a meal which fulfills one of its goals to improve the health and welfare of the communities it serves.
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
MENU:
- Ham & Cheese Soup
- Easy Roasted Broccoli
- Garden Salad
- Homemade Rolls
- Butter Cake with Pineapple topping
The Dinner Bell Ministry
First United Methodist Church
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices as flu and COVID are lurking in our midst! Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Pittsburg Man Asking for Lawyer, Lawyer, Lawyer, Ends Up in Jail, Jail, Jail
March 27, 2025 – A 28-year-old man attempted to sail through Hopkins County on Interstate 30 early Thursday morning, but caught the attention of deputies from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office.
It all began with a report of a reckless driver on I-30 traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed near the 127 mile marker at 1:17am. Officers quickly spotted the suspect vehicle and observed several traffic violations as authorities caught up with the 2009 black pickup. Deputies activated their lights and sirens which alerted the suspect that the peace officers wanted the pickup to pull over, but the driver increased the vehicle’s speed in an attempt to outrun the deputies. The driver finally relented, pulling over near the 136 mile marker. Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies made contact with the driver ultimately placing the driver in hand restraints and placing him in the back seat of the deputie’s vehicle.
When the suspect was asked to identify himself, the suspect would only respond with “lawyer, lawyer, lawyer” which added another misdemeanor charge of Failure to Identify. It didn’t take authorities long to identify the suspect through a records check as Blake Danile Lee Saylor and surprisingly the suspect’s driver’s license was invalid, The 28-year-old Pittsburg, Texas man was transported to the Hopkins County Jail facing several charges including the felony charge of Evading Arrest Or Detention with a Vehicle, No Driver’s License, Failure to Identify, and a Reckless Driving Charge. Blake Danile Lee Saylor remains in the Hopkins County Jail awaiting his bond to be set on the matter.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Governor Abbott Announces Action Taken Against East Plano Islamic Center
March 27, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Funeral Service Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter ordering the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) compound to immediately stop all illegal funeral service operations. Earlier this week, Governor Abbott announced that a dozen state agencies are investigating potential illegal activities taking place at EPIC.
“Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law,” said Governor Abbott. “The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license. This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated. Texas will continue to defend our communities from any threats posed by EPIC City.”
The cease-and-desist letter has been forwarded to the local district attorney’s office for potential prosecution.
Read Texas Funeral Service Commission’s letter to the East Plano Islamic Center here.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Issues CID as Part of an Ongoing Investigation into Real Estate Development Tied to East Plano Islamic Center
March 26, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to Community Capital Partners, LP (“CCP”) as part of an ongoing investigation into CCP’s real estate development, EPIC City. The development, which will occupy land in nearby Hunt County, is affiliated with the East Plano Islamic Center (“EPIC”).
A Civil Investigative Demand (CID) is a legal tool used by federal agencies like the DOJ, FTC, and CFPB to request documents, information, and testimony from individuals or entities during civil investigations, often before a lawsuit is filed.
CCP is a corporate entity that was established by EPIC. Additionally, promotional materials advertised by EPIC have explicitly stated that not only was CCP “created by EPIC,” but that EPIC is the “only beneficiary of profits” from EPIC City.
The CID aims to acquire material relevant to an investigation regarding potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws.
“Under my watch, there will be zero tolerance for any person or entity that breaks Texas law,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office has an open and ongoing investigation into EPIC City, which has raised a number of concerns, and this CID will help ensure that any potential violation of state law is uncovered.”
Governor Abbott, Governor Ducey Boost School Choice Support In Texas
March 26, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott boosted the growing support for school choice in Texas during a media availability with former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dustin Burrows at the Texas Capitol in Austin.
“School choice is important for parents and essential for students,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas is on the cusp of game-changing legislation. No one knows better than a parent about the power and importance of school choice for children. We must prioritize our students. As Governor, we will ensure Texas ranks No. 1 for educating our students. That starts by passing school choice this session.”
“This is a not a partisan issue, this is an American issue,” said Governor Ducey. “No state as big, impactful, and consequential as Texas has passed school choice yet. I am fully supportive of what you and your chambers are trying to do here with universal school choice. When Texas passes this, it will change everything for every child in this state and across the nation.”
“Texas is funding education at one the highest levels ever,” said Lieutenant Governor Patrick. “But every parent deserves a choice. Anyone who says that school choice is undermining education, that is simply a total lie. School choice is only going to make our schools more competitive and better for every child in Texas.”
“We can fully fund public education and do school choice at the same time,” said Speaker Burrows. “This is why the Texas House has been committed to passing House Bill 2 and House Bill 3 in tandem. We are excited to get the opportunity to get the legislation on the Governor’s desk to become law.”
Watch the Governor’s full media availability here.
Joined by members of the Texas Senate Committee on Education and Texas House Committee on Public Education, Governor Abbott indicated that passing school choice will put Texas on the pathway to becoming No. 1 in educating students. The Governor also pointed to the benefits a school choice program can have in Texas, mentioning that school choice can help Texas stay competitive in crucial industries like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and aerospace. Additionally, Governor Abbott thanked Governor Ducey, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Burrows for their leadership in empowering parents across the state and nation with school choice.
2025 PBR World Finals
March 25, 2025 – 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast to Bring Fans Nearly Two Weeks of Western-Themed Entertainment to Fort Worth and Arlington from May 8-18
Diverse lineup of largely free-to-attend programming accompanying the PBR World Finals and Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, to feature the landmark Women’s Rodeo World Championship, $1 Million ABBI Futurity, Stockyards Stampede, Drone Shows, Cowboy Church and more
FORT WORTH, Texas (March 24, 2025) – PBR (Professional Bull Riders) today announced the action- packed lineup of entertainment programming that will accompany the 2025 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast and Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, set to bring the ultimate cowboy sport celebration of American values to Fort Worth and Arlington, Texas from May 8-18.
The largely free-to-attend schedule will bring fans a diverse lineup of programming highlighting the best of Western sports and culture while providing fans from all walks of life an unparalleled menu of offerings to engage with Texas’ biggest party of the year.
The PBR World Finals, returning to Texas for the fifth time and set to pay out a record $3.26 million, will take over the Fort Worth Stockyards and Cowtown Coliseum from May 8-11 with Eliminations, followed by Ride For Redemption on May 14-15, before moving to nearby Arlington and AT&T Stadium for Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo on May 16 and the PBR World Finals – Championship on May 17-18.
Alongside these marquee events, inside the arena, PBR will highlight some of the world’s top Western sports athletes, both human and animal, through the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship, $1 Million ABBI (American Bucking Bull Inc.) Futurity, Chris Shivers Miniature Bull Riders, Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, UBF (Ultimate Bullfighters) Midnight Bullfights and Mexico In Our Blood.
The in-arena competition will be anchored by the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship, featuring hundreds of top women’s rodeo athletes competing for their share of the landmark $802,000 purse. The richest all-women’s rodeo will launch with the official Titos Welcome Gala and Back Number Ceremony, presented by Cowgirl Magazine, on May 11 at 7pm CT at Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall.
In addition to featuring a goat-tying showcase for the first time, joining the disciplines of barrel racing, breakaway roping and team roping, the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will debut a new format with 20 athletes advancing through the initial rounds of competition inside Cowtown Coliseum from May 12-14 to compete in the final rounds AT&T Stadium on May 17 during the PBR World Finals – Championship.
PBR will also celebrate accomplished Black Western sports athletes through the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo on May 17 at 1:30pm CT and 7:30pm CT, and Hispanic rodeo traditions with Mexico In Our Blood on May 18 at 2pm CT, all ticketed events at Cowtown Coliseum.
On the opposite side of the out gate, the organization will bring eventgoers a diverse array of lifestyle offerings including drone shows, charity golf tournament, Cowboy Church, the Ariat Boot Trot 5K/3K, live musical performances and more.
As a new addition to the 2025 lineup of programming, PBR alongside Outlaw Partners will host the inaugural PBR World Finals Golf Tournament at Waterchase Golf Club on Tuesday, May 13 at 9am CT benefitting the Western Sports Foundation. Players will compete in teams of four, and can register here.
PBR will also offer eventgoers two editions of Cowboy Church, led by LeAnn Hart on May 11 at 10am CT in the Fort Worth Stockyards, and by Compass Church on May 18 at 11:15am CT on AT&T Plaza at AT&T Stadium.
- In addition to her work as a minister, Hart is a proud wife to former bull rider turned Kansas City Outlaws Head Coach J.W. Hart and mom, along with being a bucking bull stock contractor alongside her husband at Hart Cattle Company.
- Compass Church is a dynamic and growing church that offers practical, Bible-based teachings that apply to everyday life by helping everyone to find their way to a deeper relationship with God, grow their faith, and engage in meaningful relationships with others.
Serving as the official fan hub for the 2025 PBR World Finals from May 8-11, the Stockyards Stampede will launch the lifestyle programming for bull riding’s crown jewel.
In addition to being the home for official PBR merchandise shops and special activations from the organization’s partners, the Stockyards Stampede will feature daily musical and DJ performances on the Cowtown Coliseum lawn. These performers include:
- Neon Prophets (May 8): The Fort Worth-based group known as America’s premier 90’s country band takes dancing and denim very seriously and encourages everyone at their concerts to join them in singing hit after hit with their wild bunch.
- Summer Dean (May 9): Fronting a hot five-piece band behind her, Dean’s live show takes the concert goer on a ride of original songs blending bravado, vulnerability, and a novelist’s eye for detail. Recently named Texas Country Music Awards Female Artist of the Year, Summer has performed with an array of country aces, including Colter Wall, Marty Stuart, Asleep at the Wheel, Hayes Carll, Silverada (Mike and the Moonpies) and Charley Crockett.
- Jack Blocker (May 10): An Americana artist whose vivid, honest storytelling is inspired by his Texan roots and the miles he’s traveled, Blocker gained national attention as a finalist on the most recent season of American Idol, where he placed third. Years of performing for small crowds and church congregations prepared him to thrive on a national stage. Now in Nashville, Blocker is writing and recording his debut LP, set to release in 2025.
The Stockyards Stampede will also host specially curated nightly drone shows on May 8-10 following the conclusion of Eliminations. At the end of the drone shows on May 9-10, eventgoers will also be able to attend the Monster Energy After Party on the Cowtown Coliseum Lawn, featuring musical guests Conner Smith (May 9) and Andy Velo (May 10).
Other programming of note during the Stockyards Stampede includes:
- On Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10 at 9:30am CT inside Cowtown Coliseum, fans will be able to watch the sport’s next generation, riders ages 8-14, compete during the Chris Shivers Miniature Bull Riders event. Past competitors of Chris Shivers Miniature Bull Riders events include 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse, 2024 PBR Teams MVP John Crimber and aspiring female bull rider Najiah Knight.
- On Saturday, May 10 at 8am CT, PBR will hold the third annual PBR Ariat Boot Trot 5K/3K in the Fort Worth Stockyards. In addition to the traditional 5K, runners can also sign-up for a 3K that must be completed in cowboy boots to win. Registration for the PBR Ariat Boot Trot 5K/3K is now open at https://raceroster.com/events/2025/90412/pbr-ariat-boot-trot-5k3k.
- Later that evening, on May 10 at 4pm CT inside Legacy Hall at Hotel Drover, the BS Cattle Company’s Bang for Your Buck Bull Sale, featuring half and full interest partnership opportunities in yearling bull prospects, will debut at the World Finals. Bulls sold during previous iterations of the sale have won more than $1.2 million in competition and have included the lines of 2023 ABBI Futurity World Champion Buck Biden, alongside the likes of Yo Mamma and Short Fire, who are currently bucking in PBR Unleash The Beast competition.
- Following the Eliminations round on May 10, Cowtown Coliseum will welcome the return of UBF’s Midnight Bullfights. Featuring the high-adrenaline sport of freestyle bullfighting, the competing athletes will also participate in unique games, keeping those in attendance on the edge of their seats all night long.
- For the second consecutive season, the PBR World Finals will welcome the ABBI’s $1 Million Futurity. Free-to-attend, on Sunday, May 11 at 9am CT this event will feature the Top 30 2-year-old future bovine athlete superstars, vying for the richest prize purse in ABBI history, with the winner poised to take away $250,000.
- On Sunday, May 11 at 10am CT, the Stockyards Stampede will also host the first edition of PBR World Finals Cowboy Church, led by LeAnn Hart, on Sunday, May 11 at 10am CT.
PBR will also bring fans an ultimate tailgate experience on May 16-18 at AT&T Stadium on AT&T Plaza. More information will be released on the can’t miss fan fests in the coming weeks. To attend this experience, fans must have tickets to Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, and the PBR World Finals – Championship.
The complete schedule, including previously announced events, is:
Thursday, May 8:
- 3-8pm: Stockyards Stampede – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 5:45-7:15pm: LIVE Music with Neon Prophets – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Eliminations Round 1 – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 10:15pm: PBR World Finals Drone Show – Fort Worth Stockyards
Friday, May 9:
- 9:30-10:30am: Chris Shivers’ MBR (Miniature Bull Riders) – Cowtown Coliseum
- 3-8pm: Stockyards Stampede – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 5:45-7:15pm: LIVE Music with Summer Dean – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Eliminations Round 2 – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 10:15pm: PBR World Finals Drone Show – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 10:30pm: PBR World Finals Monster Energy After Party with Musical Guest Conner Smith – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
Saturday, May 10:
- 8am: PBR Ariat Boot Trot 5K/3K – Fort Worth Stockyards*
- 9:30-10:30am: Chris Shivers’ MBR (Miniature Bull Riders) – Cowtown Coliseum
- 10am-8pm: Stockyards Stampede – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 11:45am-12:15pm: PBR World Finals Parade – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 4-6pm: 4th Annual BS Cattle Company’s Bang for Your Buck Bull Sale – Hotel Drover (Legacy Hall)
- 5:45-7:15pm: LIVE Music with Jack Blocker – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Eliminations Round 3 – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 10:15pm: PBR World Finals Drone Show – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 10:30pm: PBR World Finals Monster Energy After Party with Musical Guest Andy Velo – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 11:30pm: UBF (Ultimate Bullfighters) Midnight Bullfights*
Sunday. May 11:
- 9am: ABBI (American Bucking Bull Inc.) $1 Million Futurity – Cowtown Coliseum
- 10am-2pm: Stockyards Stampede – Fort Worth Stockyards
- 10am: PBR World Finals Cowboy Church with LeAnn Hart – Fort Worth Stockyards Exchange Lawn
- 1:45pm: PBR World Finals -Eliminations Round 4 – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 7pm: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Titos Welcome Gala and Back Number Ceremony, presented by Cowgirl Magazine – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall*
Monday. May 12:
- 9:30am: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Round 1 & Limited Barrel Racing – Cowtown Coliseum
Tuesday. May 13:
- 9am: PBR World Finals Golf Tournament, presented by Outlaw Partners and PBR – Waterchase Golf Club*
- 9:30am: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Round 2, Goat Tying Showcase and Limited Breakaway Roping – Cowtown Coliseum
Wednesday. May 14:
- 9am: Women’s Rodeo World Championship Semi-Finals – Cowtown Coliseum
- 4:15-8pm: TBA Musical Performance – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Ride for Redemption Round 1 – Cowtown Coliseum*
Thursday. May 15:
- 4:15-8pm: TBA Musical Performance – Cowtown Coliseum Lawn
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Ride for Redemption Round 2 – Cowtown Coliseum*
Friday. May 16:
- 4-7pm: Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo Ultimate Tailgate Party – AT&T Stadium’s AT&T Plaza*
- 7pm: Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo – AT&T Stadium*
Saturday. May 17:
- 1:30pm: Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 5-8pm: PBR World Finals Ultimate Tailgate Party – AT&T Stadium’s AT&T Plaza*
- 7:30pm: Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo – Cowtown Coliseum*
- 7:45pm: PBR World Finals – Championship Rounds 1-2* (Note: Will also feature the final round of the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship.)
Sunday. May 18:
- 11am-2pm: PBR World Finals Ultimate Tailgate Party – AT&T Stadium’s AT&T Plaza*
- 11:15am: PBR World Finals Cowboy Church, presented by Compass Church – AT&T Stadium’s AT&T Plaza*
- 1:45pm: PBR World Finals – Championship Rounds 3-4*
- 2pm: Mexico In Our Blood – Cowtown Coliseum*
* Denotes an event that requires a ticket or special registration.
The PBR World Finals will again feature a three-stage format, Eliminations, Ride For Redemption and Championship, making the battle for the World Championship more dramatic and competitive than ever.
Eliminations (May 8-11) and Ride For Redemption (May 14-15) are the crucial initial phases in any rider’s quest to be crowned a World Champion. Together they determine the 25-rider field that will compete at the PBR World Finals – Championship, scheduled for May 17-18 at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington, which will ultimately determine the season’s World Champion.
Action for Eliminations gets underway at 7:45 p.m. CT nightly from May 8-10 and at 1:45 p.m. CT on May 12. Ride For Redemption will begin at 7:45 p.m. CT on both May 14-15 inside Cowtown Coliseum. Tickets for both events held at the birthplace of PBR, can be purchased at the Cowtown Coliseum Box Office, online at PBRWorldFinals.com and AXS.com or by phone at (800) 732-1727.
Before the PBR World Finals – Championship, the landmark, team-formatted, Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo featuring rock n’ roll icon Kid Rock LIVE in concert, along with a special surprise guest, will be held on May 16, inside AT&T Stadium.
Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo is a reimagined rodeo produced by PBR in partnership with Kid Rock. During the music-infused event, six teams, each led by a legendary rodeo head coach, compete head-to-head in bracket-style competition across barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and breakaway roping.
Following the team formatted rodeo, the PBR World Finals concludes with the Championship when the 2025 PBR World Champion will be crowned and presented the coveted gold buckle and $1 million bonus.
Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. CT on May 16, while the PBR World Finals – Championship will get underway at 7:45 p.m. CT on May 17 and 1: 45 p.m. CT on May 18. Tickets for both events at AT&T Stadium are on sale now and can be purchased online at PBRWorldFinals.com and SeatGeek.com, or by calling (800) 732-1727.
Stay tuned to PBR.com for the latest news and results and be sure to follow the sport on all social media platforms at @PBR.
Paris Junior College Adult Ed Offering Free GED Fast-Track Classes and Much More
March 25, 2025 – Free, fast-track GED classes are being offered by Paris Junior College’s Adult Education and Family Literacy Department to help students get their GED in as little as 10 weeks. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 3 for classes that will run Monday, April 14 through June 18, 2025. The classes are just part of the services offered by Adult Education that can lead to better jobs and higher pay.
Those services are free thanks to grant funding from the Texas Workforce Commission.
“We were awarded $702,381 in the fall to continue providing educational classes within our service area,” said PJC Adult Education Director Susan Sanchez. “We can help you with improving literacy, learning English as a Second Language (ESL), citizenship classes, computer literacy, employability skills, workforce development support classes and tuition, and case management services for internationally trained professionals and re-entry students.”
PJC also receives support from the Lamar County Literacy Council (LCLC), a United Way organization, which pays for GED vouchers, the spring GED graduation, and provides a scholarship. Sanchez also serves as the LCLC director. Last fall, the program received a vote of confidence with a donation from the Lamar County Junior Chamber of Commerce.
The Lamar County Junior Chamber donated to adult education in the fall. Shown from left are Avery Spencer, Rosalyn Spencer, William Flood, and Ethan Schmidt with Susan Sanchez.
“All the United Way agencies gave presentations and then the junior chamber members voted on who they would donate to,” Sanchez said. “We were very pleased that they thought adult literacy was an important cause to support.”
Former student Gretel Waite took advantage of the adult education programs at PJC and was pleased with the results.
Gretel Waite, a former Adult Education student who was very pleased with the services.
“The employability class is the course I never knew I needed,” said Waite. “They provided guidance and support from writing resumes to mock job interviews, to building self-confidence to prepare myself for employment. It truly is a career navigator.”
“Each year more than 70,000 Texans enroll in adult education programs to help increase their earning potential in the Texas workforce,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “These AEL programs are helping adult learners gain the skills they need for success.”
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those without a high school diploma average $708 weekly and have a 5.6 percent unemployment rate. This rises to $899 with 3.9 percent unemployment for a high school degree or GED. An associate’s degree brings the weekly average to $1,058 with an unemployment rate of 2.7 percent. Earnings rise and unemployment rates drop the higher the education attainment.
“Education is one of the most powerful tools to achieve career success and prosperity,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Joe Esparza. “The Texas Workforce Commission’s commitment to the education of all Texans not only strengthens our workforce system, but also Texas’ reputation as the best state for doing business.”
The fast-track courses will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Bobby R. Walters Workforce Training Center in Paris, and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the PJC-Greenville Center.
To qualify, students must be at least 17 or older, bring a current driver’s license or state ID when registering, and they must attend all classes. The classes will cover GED core exam components of language arts, science, social studies, and math. Students will also have help setting up their online GED account and get free GED practice and test vouchers.
Registration may be done in person, emailing [email protected], or calling 903-782-0467 in Paris or 903-454-8703 in Greenville. PJC serves Lamar, Delta, Hopkins, Red River, and Hunt counties. Learn more at www.parisjc.edu/adult-ed.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
New Beginnings Healing and Deliverance Ministries Announces Two Events in April
March 25, 2025 – New Beginnings Healing and Deliverance Ministries is spreading the word on two exciting events coming up in April 2025…
Pastor Deborah Sharper, and New Beginnings Healing and Deliverance Ministries, will host the “Glory Invasion” event April 11, 2025, beginning at 7:00pm, and April 12, 2025, beginning at 6:00pm. Guest speaker will be Apostle Brandon Cornelius, from Glory Revival Center in Madison, MS. This event is free tot he public.
Also taking place in April 2025, the Ancient Rivers In One Accord Ministries will be held at 1200 Houston Street, in Sulphur Springs, Texas. This event will be held April 13, 2025, beginning at 4:00pm. Special presenter will be Apostle Brandon Cornelius Sr.
