Meeting Ms. Hopkins County….Contestants 6 and 7
This is the third of four reports about contestants for the 2018 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant, taken from KSST Morning Show interviews with Enola Gay. The pageant will be staged on Saturday June 9 at 6pm in the Civic Center banquet hall. It is free to attend and open to the public. Let’s meet Contestants 6 and 7, Jan and Elizabeth!
Left, Jan Massey and right, Elizabeth Wilburn
Jan Massey, age 75, grew up in Delta County with a farming background, then moved with her husband to Sulphur Springs in 1962. At that time, she was a graduate of the Dale Carnagie course, and would go on to put the skills she learned to work in her careers. First employed at Texas Power and Light in Sulphur Springs, she was transferred to the Dallas office when their daughter Kim required long-term hospitalization. Later , back in Hopkins County, Jan’s resume grew as she worked for the Extension office, as service manager at Fleetwood Homes, then for 23 years at Grocery Supply Inc. in customer service and sales with extensive travel. Today she works part-time at the Millennium Shopper downtown, doing what she loves most, catering to the needs of her clients. Her daughter Kim and two grandchildren live close by. Jan plays the piano, enjoys traditional country western music and she loves to dance. Her talent presentation will be a comedy reading.
Elizabeth Wilburn, age 70, is not a stranger to the Ms. Hopkins County Pageant, She is returning for her fourth year because she really loves the excitement of meeting new friends and developing new talents. Twice recognized for her Philosophy of Life, she admits that the pageant has helped her develop skills that brought her out of shyness. Elizabeth’s first career was full-time stay-at-home mom, then she worked at Winn-Dixie and as manager of a downtown retail shop. She has lived in Sulphur Springs her entire life, her children live nearby and she is a treasure to her grandchildren. Jan credits her as being “the best neighbor”. Elizabeth’s talent presentation will be Minnie Pearl’s “How to Catch a Man”.
Be sure and attend the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant on Saturday June 9, 2018 at 6pm inside the Hopkins County Civic Center as all ten contestants compete for the crown and title and the chance to represent the senior women of Hopkins County. Winner advances to the Ms. Texas Senior Pageant in the Metroplex this Fall.
Abron Named AD/Head Football Coach at Paul Pewitt High ISD
SSHS Wildcat Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron has been named Athletic Director/Head Football Coach at Paul Pewitt ISD, Omaha Texas. The 3A School is a Consolidated District in Morris County. The Brahma’s have been 3A Division II Bi-District Finalists the past two seasons and were Area Champion in 2015.
Abron was unanimously approved for the position and the news tweeted out at 5 a.m. May 30, 2018.
Wildcat Head Coach Greg Owens stated Thursday morning that Triston has worked his way through the Wildcat system and has earned this opportunity to lead his own program. His character, integrity, work ethic, enthusiasm, passion, and energy will help him exel as he leads the Brahmas. This is bitter/sweet for us—we are losing a great teacher/coach, but excited for his opportunity.
Abron played his high school football career as a Wildcat.
County Man arrested for Injury to Parents
Hopkins County Deputies responded to a disturbance on County Road 3563 Wednesday afternoon. There they made contact with Billy Shane McCormick, 37 and his parents. The parents stated that McCormick had thrown water on and pushed his father and had grabbed his mother around the throat and pulled her head down causing neck pain. When deputies attempted to secure McCormick for arrest, he resisted arrest.
At the jail, the jail staff refused entry for McCormick based on statements he made at book-in. They requested a medical clearance from CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital. When he was cleared by the hospital ER staff, McCormick was transported back to jail where he remains Thursday morning.
McCormick is charged with Injury to Child/Elderly/Disabled with Intent Bodily Injury, a felony 3, and with Resisting Arrest.
Heart’s of Life Presents CeCe For Adoption
Meet CeCe! CeCe is a 2 year old Shepherd/Pyrenees mix. He is a very loving, very playful and very big pup! He is always happy to see you! His adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter and rabies shot.
Please contact Hearts of Life Animal Rescue by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], www.facebook.com/heartsoflife or Petfinder.com!
PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus Fall Registration Underway
GETTING READY: Jessica Ash, a recent Sulphur Springs High School graduate, is working with PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Advisor Carey Gable as she prepares for classes at the Sulphur Springs campus. Registration continues on campus during regular office hours for fall classes. Call 903-885-1232 for more information.
Chamber Connection May 31, 2018
Chamber Connection-May 31st
We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!! The 2018 Ice Cream Freeze-off is almost here! We are currently in need of sponsors of the Ice Cream Freeze-off, and people to make homemade ice cream in the contest. There is no charge to enter the ice cream contest, so please consider being a part this year! The Ice Cream Freeze-off will be held on Saturday, June 9th, at 5:30 p.m. on the REAR lawn of Shannon Oaks Church. We are moving the Ice Cream to the back of Shannon Oaks so that once the Ice Cream is over, the hot air balloons will get fired up all in the exact same place. Make plans to be a part of the Ice Cream Freeze-off then watch 30 hot air balloons glow and take flight. It’s going to be a great day!!! We’d love to have you join us!!! To sign up to sponsor or to make ice cream, call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515. We’ll get you all set up for the big event!
Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for the Dairy Festival is scheduled for Friday, June 8th at noon
The Dairy Festival officially kicks off with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, June 8th at noon on Celebration Plaza. Make plans to be there and celebrate the start of the Dairy Festival!
Sulphur Springs Public Library presents their Summer Reading Program for June and July
The Sulphur Springs Library is hosting a summer reading program called Fun with Mary Poppins Reading Program 2018. The Summer Reading Program Kickoff will be held on Thursday, May 31st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Ewe Pet Petting Zoo, Dairy Queen face painting, summer reading challenge sign ups, food and music! Story time will be each Tuesday at 10 a.m. in June and July (except for July 10 and 17). Watch for special guest appearances along with fun, stories and great prizes. Minecraft is back every Friday afternoon at 3p.m. beginning June 1 and ending July 27. Thursday, June 21st at 6 p.m. is a special Mary Poppins Story time event, and Friday, June 22nd at 3 p.m., don’t miss the Bubble Show with Brett Roberts. Then, Thursday, June 28th, at 11 a.m. the library will welcome Will Parker with a very musical story time. The library is happy to answer any questions, please call (903) 885-4926, or you can visit www.sslibrary.org.
Jesus is my SuperHero 5K Run
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting the Jesus is my SuperHero 5K Run on Saturday, June 2nd on Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs. Register at www.oursaviorsstx.org or at Fieldhouse Sports located 101 Bill Bradford Road in Sulphur Springs. This event is a fundraiser for the OSLC Youth Group. Entry fee is $30. For more information, contact (903) 885-5787 or (903) 243-4716.
The Northeast Texas Alliance will host workforce seminar
On June 6th the Northeast Texas Alliance is holding a regional government seminar to discuss workforce issues. Workforce readiness and preparation are the current buzz words and major points of discussion not only for new business recruitment but also business retention and expansion. The luncheon speaker will be TWC Commissioner Julian Alvarez, with additional speakers including Texas State Senator Brian Hughes. The seminar is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and will include lunch. It will be located at the Mt Pleasant Civic Center in Mt Pleasant, Texas. Cost for the program is $23.00 each. The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging participation in this program by encouraging attendance of our businesses, community leaders, and citizens. Call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 to order your tickets.
Heart of Hope is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration
Heart of Hope, located at 407 S. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 13th at noon. Please make plans to attend the ribbon cutting to learn more about Heart of Hope and the benefits they offer Hopkins County.
AgriLife Extension offers Rebalancing Work & Life Webinar
The Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) is providing a free monthly webinar in partnership with USDA, U.S. Department of Defense, and Extension. The June 13th webinar will take place at 10:00 a.m. To sign up, go to: https://learn.extension.org/events/3261. To join the webinar, use the ‘event location’ link designated for each webinar and follow directions within the site. The MFLN offers both continuing education credit (CE) and certificates of completion for webinars. For more information, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office – Hopkins County – at 903-885-3443.
Workforce Solutions is hosting a Career & Community Resource Expo on June 28th
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting a Career & Community Resources Expo at the ROC, 120 Oak Street in Sulphur Springs, on Tuesday, June 28th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are accepting vendors on a first come first served basis with a deadline for vendors of June 16th. Exhibitor space is free of charge but limited. For additional information, please call Workforce Solutions at (903) 885-7556 x 414.
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
SSISD Personnel Changes Approved by Board Wednesday
Following an Executive Meeting conducted Wednesday during a special session of the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, personnel changes were approved. Personnel changes include:
Resignations
Sarah Graham Transitional 1st Grade Teacher Former ECLC
Ellie Gomez Grade 4 Math Teacher SS Elementary
Laura Smith Grade 4 ELAR Teacher SS Elementary
Tony Henry PE Teacher/Coach Middle School
New Personnel
Brandi Caddell Grade 4 Math & Science Teacher SS Elementary
Jessica Hendricks SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Michelle Barron Grade 7 English Teacher Middle School
Brittany Laza Band Director Middle School
Emalee Tate Conrad CTE Audio/Visual Production Teacher High School
Brandon DeLorge Government Teacher/Coach High School
Personnel Changes New position/campus Former position/campus
Lucia Hickman Pre-K Aide/Douglas ECLC SpEd Aide/Travis
Renee Johnson Grade 5 Bilingual/SS Elem. Grade 3 Bilingual/Travis
Abigail Godina Grade 3 Bilingual/Travis Grade 5 Bilingual/SS Elem.
Elizabeth Bialecki Asst. Band Dir./High School Band Director/Middle School
Jarret Wilson Asst. Principal/High School Tech Specialist/High School
SSISD Board Names Former ECLC Campus: Barbara Bush Primary School
Barbara Bush Primary School was approved as the new name for the former ECLC campus located on Hillcrest Drive in Sulphur Springs. The SSISD Board approved the name during a special session Wednesday. They also approved the lease of laptops for students at a cost of $175 per unit.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb presented the new name for the campus. The Early Childhood Education classes will be moved to the Douglas Campus to free the Bush campus for first and second grade students and future growth for those grades. In naming the campus, Lamb stated that the Texas Hero theme, used in the names of other school campuses, was considered. However, with the death of Mrs. Bush, former First Lady, wife of President George H W Bush, the campus name will carry the memory of her passion for literacy and education. He stated that names of community members and those in other places were also considered. Local social groups, teachers, and others were a part of the conversation in campus name choice.
The board voted unanimously to approve the Bush name.
Meeting Ms. Hopkins County Senior…Contestants 3,4 and 5
This is the second of four reports on the interesting women competing for the title of 2018 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic. The contestants represent women age 60 and older who live, work and volunteer in Hopkins County. Reports are taken from interviews between the ten contestants and Enola Gay on the KSST Morning Show during the week of May 29-June 1, 2018. The public is invited to attend the Pageant on Saturday June 9 at 6 pm in the banquet hall of the Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
2018 Contestants Linda Barrett, Valerie Ross and Venda Wright
Linda Barrett is rather new to Sulphur Springs, and she was urged by her aunt Beth Barrett to enter the Pageant. Linda has much to give to others through her volunteer work at Seniors Center activities and at nursing homes she visits. During her at-home hours, she often writes and mails letters of encouragement to friends and others she meets. She also enjoys playing Bingo and Bunco with friends. Linda graduated from the University of Texas and her career was in HR. Her talent presentation will be a reading of an inspirational letter taken from Guideposts for Living. This 63-year-old feels that caring about others is an important aspect for happiness.
Valerie Ross is also a newcomer to Hopkins County, moving here from the Corsicana area about 5 years ago. Valerie definitely “stepped out of her comfort zone” when she first entered the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant in 2015. Though shy, her first talent presentation was a demonstration of a sewing project. Last year, she sang a war-era song in honor of her grandfather. For this pageant, the 63-year-old plans to do a Roaring 20’s skit and dance! Valerie loves sewing, gardening and crafts. She has conducted a Crafts class at Rock Creek Health and Rehab in Sulphur Springs, and feels that hands-on sharing is a worthwhile way to volunteer your skills and time to others.
Venda Wright is possibly the youngest contestant, as she has just turned 60 years old. She said she couldn’t wait to become eligible to enter the Pageant! Venda has a busy life with her husband Terry Wright, her children and grandchildren. She also works in the community, cooking for fundraisers and for her church, Evening Chapel CME and for New Beginnings in Cooper, Texas where she volunteers. Homecooking is a big part of her life. As a child, she stood on a chair and learned by watching her grandmother and her mother. She always wanted to help, and gradually was given more and more opportunity to develop her skills in the kitchen. By the time she was 10 years old, she could bake a better cake than her mom! Today, she loves turning out country meals, cakes and pies prepared in the traditional ways, but always keeps an eye out for the best of newer recipes. Singing is also a big part of Venda’s life, and she will present an inspirational song during the talent portion of the Pageant.
Commissioners’ Court Approves New Courtroom, New Communication System for Inmates
A new courtroom will be built at the Law Enforcement Center/Jail with work starting sometime in the next two months. A contract for $390,453.76 for the construction was approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court Wednesday morning, May 30th in a special session. The contract does not include the Audio Visual, fiber optics, and utilities for the building. The contractor for the work is Petty Homes and construction management will be performed by CRW Associates Inc. of Sulphur Springs.
Commissioners also approved a new communication system that will allow inmates to send and receive texts at a call/text station. The charges for texts will be 50-cents and Judge Robert Newsom said he anticipates the county will net as much or more income with the addition of texting.
Subcontractors for the construction of the courtroom will include Bar H Construction, foundation; Baxter Electric, Electrician; Brunson Plumbing; Pacheco Roofing; Chris Bramlett, framer; Bent Creek Customs, millwork; Sulphur River Trim Co., trim and finish; and Hector Ramirez, tile setter. The sewer cost will be $14 per foot which will include pipe, excavation equipment, and all drain connections. Water line cost will be determined by distance and meter site.
