Brian Kelly Signs up to run for Sulphur Springs ISD School Board
January 25, 2024 – Angela Grimes, Communications Coordinator with Sulphur Springs ISD reports to KSST News that Brian Kelly is the second person to sign up to run for the upcoming Sulphur Springs ISD School Board race. Stay tuned to KSST for more details.
Hopkins County Extension Office has Scheduled Pesticide Applicator Trainings
The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is designated as the state’s lead agency in the regulation of pesticide use and application. TDA is responsible for licensing and training pesticide applicators, overseeing worker protection, registering pesticides for sale in the state and working to minimize unnecessary impacts to agriculture while enhancing protection of endangered and threatened species. A private pesticide applicator is someone who uses or supervises the use of restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides to produce an agricultural commodity on personally owned property; Rented property; Property owned by his or her employer; Property under his or her general control; or The property of another person if applied without compensation, other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities. An agricultural commodity is a plant or animal grown for sale, lease, barter, feed or human consumption and animals raised for farm or ranch work. No license is required to apply general-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities. The first step for becoming a Pesticide Private Applicator is to Attend a Private Pesticide Applicator training session. Contact your Extension office for training opportunities. You can also take the training online. (more at https://www.texasagriculture.gov). To satify training requirements, the Hopkins County Extension Office has scheduled the Pesticide Applicators Trainings for February 21, May 22, August 14 and November 13, 2024. Contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at m-villarino@tamu.edu.
Cumby Texas without Water Again
It has been reported that the town of Cumby, Texas is having issues with their water services again. The town in question has been experiencing problems with their water off and on since January 17, 2024. Bottled water is available at the maintenance barn for residents who are currently without water. Cumby has been experiencing issues with their systems due to the cold spells with freezing temperatures Texas experienced earlier this month. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom issued an emergency disaster declaration for Cumby, Texas, January 18th. As of this morning the town is again without water.
TAMUC Rodeo Celebrating 10th Anniversary with Annual Home Competition
January 23, 2024 – COMMERCE, TX—The Texas A&M University-Commerce rodeo team looks to have a strong showing at its annual home competition scheduled for February 2-3 at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Each day will begin with slack rounds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a show performance at 7 p.m. A final round featuring the top 10 competitors in every event will be featured during Saturday’s show.
Homestyle food concessions will be available, and all events will be free and open to the public.
A&M-Commerce Rodeo celebrates a decade of competition this year, and the program’s growth over that time is evident. Starting in 2014 with just 12 members, the team now boasts more than 60 competitors across an array of disciplines.
The program has also seen plenty of success in its first decade.
A&M-Commerce Rodeo has featured a national champion at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) each of the past two years, with Bryana Lehrmann winning the Women’s All-Around title in 2022 and Kincade Henry winning the Tie Down Roping event in 2023. Cutter Carpenter, who finished second in Tie Down Roping at the 2023 CNFR behind Henry, saw his horse “Twix” named the 2023 American Quarter Horse Association’s Horse of the Year in the men’s events.
In addition, several rodeo alums have gone pro after their time at A&M-Commerce and have appeared at the National Finals Rodeo.
Lion rodeo athletes have also excelled in the classroom, with 21 students being named a “Scholar American” by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) in the last decade. Head coach Dameon White has been recognized as an NIRA Southern Region Coach of the Year on multiple occasions.
White commented on building the A&M-Commerce Rodeo team from the ground up.
“It has been a blast building this program into a nationally recognized rodeo program,” White said. “These college competitors give it 1000% every time they compete.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the A&M-Commerce Rodeo program may email head coach Dameon White at Dameon.White@tamuc.edu or visit tamuc.edu/rodeo
Photo: Matt Strasen, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Monday January 22, Sulphur Springs Board Meeting Notes of Interest
January 23, 2024 – At the Regular Board Meeting of the Sulphur Springs Independent School District Monday, January 22, 2024, KSST Interns Halle Dunn and Nataleigh Sheffield noted the following points of interest.
Hannah Garrett presented the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) overview.
The Sulphur Springs ISD bond Planning committee, consisting of 47 individuals, does the following:
- Plan for the future.
- Honor SSISD history.
- Assess and prioritize the needs of students.
- Plan financial aspects.
- Assess educational needs, and then report to the school board.
Kati Adare, Wesley Cooper, Michael Williams, and Steve Lily presented potential projects:
- 1. address aging conditions at primary and elementary level
- 2. plan for growth
- 3. create safe, modern learning spaces for all elementary students
Focus: Two new K-5 facilities
Overall recommendation:
Hold bond election for 3 prospects for new elementary and primary learning spaces.
Justin Cowart presented TASB policy updates on the local and legal updates, including:
- voting on Chaplains in schools
- dyslexia screening for all students
- failure of STAAR education hours
- course retaking on parents wish
- career investigation
- health services
- crisis intervention
- and legal additions.
Pat Leber Sworn in as SSISD Police Chief
January 23, 2024 – KSST Interns Nataleigh Sheffield and Halle Dunn attended the Sulphur Springs ISD Regular Board Meeting Monday, January 22nd, 2024, and one of the multiple notes of interest they took away from it was the fact Pat Leber was sworn in as the Sulphur Springs ISD Police Chief. Chief Leber has 25 years of experience and is retired from the Sulphur Springs police department. Chief Pat Leber said, “I am enthusiastic about taking on the pivotal role of Chief of Police for the Sulphur Springs ISD Police Department. With a deep commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff, it is my goal to provide and maintain a secure and conducive environment for learning.” in an earlier story on ksstradio.com, in regards to the new position. Pat Leber has been serving as the SSISD Interim Police Chief since September 12th of this school year.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report 1-15-2024 – 1-21-2024
Arrests:
Clark,Travis, 19 years of age, of Winnsboro, TX, was arrested on 1-18-2024 for Assault FV impeded breath/circulation, Interference with emergence request for assistance.
Porter, Dillon, 17 years of age, of Winnsboro, TX, was arrested on 1-16-2024 for Criminal Mischief, Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, Possession of marijuana <2oz.
Larey, Melissa, 45 years of age, of Sulphur Springs, TX, was arrested on 1-18-2024 for Possession CS PG1>=1G<4G analogue.
Calls for Service:
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 106 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations:
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 26 citations and 25 warnings during this reporting period.
Du Chau Exhibition on View at A&M-Commerce
By Melynda Seaton, Department of Art
January 22, 2024 – COMMERCE, TX—The University Gallery at Texas A&M University-Commerce is pleased to announce Du Chau | The Silence that Speaks | 1998-2023.
The exhibition is on view from January 9 through February 22, 2024, at The University Gallery located at 2005 University Drive in Commerce, Texas. An artist lecture and reception will be held on Wednesday, January 31, as follows:
- Artist Lecture: 4 p.m., Art Building, Room 111
- Reception: 5 to 7 p.m., The University Gallery
The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.
The Exhibition
The exhibition features artwork from the last 25 years of Du Chau’s career, including well-known porcelain and wire pieces, archival pigment prints, silkscreen prints, bronze, and other mixed media. Chau’s themes evoke gripping yet tender memories of childhood, family, and personal growth in the aftermath of war, presented as visually stunning experiences. Each piece invites the viewer to slow down, contemplate and reflect.
According to Amy Lewis Hofland, senior director at Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas:
Du Chau’s work invites us to be inside of the bountiful: a life that knows its own preciousness, its abundance, and the imminent practicality of death. Natural forms are the familiar nearby: that which is within us and around us invites our wonder and our awe at the indescribable mystery of it all. His work, to witness it, is the experience: he calls us into the field. His stories become our stories through intense color, delicate forms, and the tenacious practice of breathtaking multiplicity.
About the Artist
Du Chau was born in Vietnam and came to the United States in 1981. He pursued a medical career and is currently a pathology technical coordinator at Methodist Hospital of Dallas. After taking art classes at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, he took a sabbatical from his medical career to pursue BFA and MFA degrees at New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. In addition to his medical practice, Du Chau is also an adjunct instructor of ceramics at Dallas College.
Chau has exhibited his work at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Amarillo Museum of Arts, and Wichita Falls Museum of Art. Chau’s artwork is included in collections at the University of Texas in Austin, Dallas College, the Curaumilla Art Center in Chile, CRETA Rome in Italy, Honos Contemporary Art Gallery in Italy, the Alfred Art Ceramic Museum in New York, and the Museum Complex at the University of Port Harcourt Nigeria.
Chau was a visiting scholar at the University of Port Harcourt and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Nigeria in 2019. He is the recipient of the 2017 NCECA International Residency Award, which allowed him to work at the Curaumilla Arts Center in Chile. In 2016, he was awarded a residency from the CRETA Foundation in Rome, Italy.
Learn more about the artist at https://www.duchauwebsite.com/
Used by permission.
Used by permission.
Oscar Aguilar Signs Up In Effort to Retain Seat on Sulphur Springs City Council
January 22, 2024 – Oscar Aguilar, current Place 3 Councilman, on the Sulphur Springs City Council has filed his paperwork to hopefully retain his seat on the council in the upcoming May election. Oscar Aguilar has been on the Council since 2006. He ran for and drew no opponents in 2020 for Place 3 on the council.
Three seats on the Sulphur Springs City Council, Places 1, 2 and 3 will be on the ballot in the May 4, 2024 election. Jay Julian who currently occupies Place 1 on the council seeks re-election as his first term is set to expire. Harold Nash, Sr. looks to retain his seat of Place 2 on the council which he has held since December 2019.
Collyn Seth McDaniel has also signed up for the Place 3 Councilman spot. All places on the Sulphur Springs City Council are “at-large” meaning anyone residing inside the Sulphur Springs City Limits that also meet the other requirements, are allowed to run for any place on the council that will be on the upcoming ballot.
As stated on the City of Sulphur Springs website, any potential candidate should meet the following requirements:
A prospective candidate shall be a qualified voter of the State of Texas, resided continuously in the State of Texas and the City of Sulphur Springs for 12 months immediately preceding the deadline for filing an application for a place on the ballot. Other qualifications include 1) must be a citizen of the United States eligible to hold such office under the constitution and laws of this state; 2) must not be mentally incompetent as determined by a court; 3) Must not be convicted of a felony for which he/she has not been pardoned or had full rights of citizenship restored by other official action; 4) must be 18 years of age or older on the commencement of the term to be filled; 5) must not hold any other public office in which he/she was elected for and/or be a member of a board directly appointed by the City Council on the commencement of the term to be filled; 9) city taxes must be paid to current; 10) and have knowledge of the nepotism law summary.
2024 MLK Awards Rescheduled for Sunday, January 28, 2024
January 22, 2024 – The 2024 Martin Luther King Awards Ceremony in Sulphur Springs, Texas, has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 28, 2024, at Morning Chapel Baptist Church. The Church is located at 208 Fuller Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas. The program begins at 6:30pm. The public is invited to attend.
