Mayor Proclaims Friday “Put on Purple Day” in Sulphur Springs; Raising Awareness of Lupus
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS PROCLAMATION:
WHEREAS, an estimated 1. 5 million Americans suffer from Lupus, the chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease that can affect various pans of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys; and
WHEREAS, Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of many other illnesses, and major gaps exist in understanding the causes and consequences; and
WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America, Lone Star Chapter is part of a national force devoted to solving the cmel mystery oflupus while providing caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact; and
WHEREAS, the Chapter rallied the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, to wear the color purple and to further unify the support for those living with the disease; and
WHEREAS, awareness is vital in raising funds for research for those affected by lupus; and it is our responsibility as a community to advocate on their behalf and to further encourage educational programs so everyone affected by lupus can have an improved quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John A. Sellers, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, do hereby proclaim May 18, 2018 as Put On Purple Day throughout the City of Sulphur Springs and urge all citizens to support the cause of raising awareness of lupus, so that we can have a world with NO lupus.
PJC Graduates 371 Students
by Paul Bailey
Lauren Hudson of Cumby graduated with her Associate’s Degree in General Studies with Highest Honors (4.0 GPA) prior to graduating from high school.
A beautiful evening greeted graduates, their families and friends at Noyes Stadium on May 11 during the 93rd spring graduation ceremony of Paris Junior College. Out of 371 students graduating with a certificate or associate degree, more than 200 students chose to participate in the ceremony.
PJC Student Government Association President Johnathan Stevenson gave the opening invocation, and freshman music major Cyan Burkhart performed “You Raise Me Up.”
Graduating students ranged in age from 17 to 61 years, and were 45 percent male and 55 percent female. They came from 34 Texas counties, 12 states, Puerto Rico, and Ghana.
“In this year’s graduating class, we have 32 students receiving their associate degrees who will graduate from high school in the next two to three weeks,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “Of these, 22 are from Quinlan Ford High School, three are from Wolfe City High School, two are from Miller Grove High School, and one each from Cumby, North Lamar, Paris, Prairiland, Roxton, and Lone Oak high schools.”
“Among our graduates are this year’s valedictorians from Cumby and Miller Grove High Schools;” Dr. Anglin said, “a young man who made his own prosthetic hand as a final class project in our computer aided drafting and 3D Printing program; a student who was fourth in the nation in stolen bases in the NJCAA this season; and members of the baseball team with an overall GPA of 3.70, which is one of the highest athletic team GPAs in the nation.”
The 2018 Master Teacher Award was then presented. Nominations are made by faculty peers and then reviewed for final selection. Winning was History Instructor and Social Sciences Division Chair Lisa Johnson.
“This instructor truly represents the student-friendly, people-friendly characteristics of Paris Junior College,” said Dr. Anglin, reading from nominator comments. “She knows that as our classrooms continuingly become more diverse, the challenge to engage all students is even more critical. She goes out of her way to help students succeed so that they may continue to pursue their academic goals. She was among the first, if not the first, to conduct an on-line course for Paris Junior College receiving the NETnet Consortium Outstanding Distance Educator award.”
The Distinguished Service Award, PJC’s highest student honor, was announced next by Associate Vice President for Student Access and Success Sheila Reece. This award has been presented annually to a PJC graduate since 1935, when it was first given to Louis B. Williams, who later became president of Paris Junior College. The Award recognizes academic achievement and service to PJC and the community and is given to an outstanding graduating student. PJC faculty and professional staff determine the winner.
Named to the honor for 2018 was Ryleigh Davidson, a graduate of Prairiland High School from Blossom. She is a nursing major and a two-year member of the PJC cheer squad. She also serves as PJC’s 2017-2018 Homecoming Queen. She plans to continue nursing school at PJC, wanting to eventually travel with her nursing degree.
Second Day of Early Voting in Primary Runoff Slower for Republicans
The second day of early voting in the May Primary Runoff was not as active for Republicans as the first but Democrats seem to be holding a steady pace. For Republicans, 121 ballots were cast Tuesday bringing their total to 284 ballots cast in the first two days. Democrats had seven (7) voters cast ballots bringing their total to 14 for the first two days.
Early voting in the Primary Runoff Election continues 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day through Friday, May 18th. Early voting takes place at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom, 128 Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
Tuesday, May 22 is Primary Runoff Election Day with voting places open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Hopkins County registered voters may cast ballots at any of the voting places on that day. Voting places will include the Lutheran Church on Texas Street, the Courthouse downtown, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Fuller Street, and League Street Church of Christ and Como-Pickton School on Highway 11 E. Republicans are voting for nominees for Hopkins County Treasurer and Commissioner Precinct 2. Since there are not Democrat challengers, those who receive the nomination will be the only ones for those offices on the ballot in November. Democrats are voting in state runoff races only.
Como Woman Admitted to Smoking Meth
When the 2005 Chrysler 300 was stopped by the Hopkins County Deputy on FM 69 south of the Black Oak Church, Brenda Raley Davis, 63, of Como, showed signs of involuntary movement of the jaw that appeared to be the result of the influence of a narcotic.
Consent to search the vehicle resulted in the officer finding a black zippered sunglasses case on the passenger side floorboard. Inside the case was a clear glass pipe commonly used for smoking methamphetamine. A usable amount of the substance was located in the stem and bowl of the pipe. After her Miranda Warning, Davis told the officer she had smoked meth as recently as the previous day and that the passenger in the vehicle had no involvement with the suspected meth.
Davis is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Sulphur Springs Public Library Announces Summer Reading Program 2018
Who remembers these sayings?…A Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down…choose your friends wisely…Be prepared for anything…carefully consider your words…be polite and keep your cool. These are words of wisdom from Mary Poppins! Sulphur Springs Public Library teaming up with Shining Star Productions proudly announces Fun with Mary Poppins Summer Reading Program 2018.
As always, the library challenges kids to complete three reading logs which equals 8 ½ hours of reading over the summer. Special prizes for those that meet our challenge.
This year’s Summer Reading Program has so many things going on. Adult reading programs, Minecraft for the teens and tons of activities for Preschool, Elementary and Middle School students. We are especially excited about the Texas A&M Chemistry Road show. That one has so many special effects that we will be at the Civic Center!
- Thursday May 31 at 5-7pm Summer Reading Program Kickoff with Ewe Pet Petting Zoo, Dairy Queen face painting, summer reading challenge sign ups, food and music!
- Story time will be each Tuesday at 10am in June and July (except for July 10 and 17) and. Watch for a special guest appearance! Fun, stories and great prizes!
- Minecraft is back every Friday afternoon at 3pm beginning June 1 and ending July 27.
- Thursday June 21st at 6pm is a special Mary Poppins Story time event.
- Friday June 22 at 3pm you won’t want to miss the Bubble Show with Brett Roberts
- Thursday June 28 at 11am we welcome Will Parker with a very Musical Story time .
- July 10 at 10-11:30am at the CIVIC CENTER Don’t miss the Texas A&M Chemistry Road show. ***This program contains flame effects and explosions, and is suitable for grades 3 and up. Students in grades 3 and up will be allowed to sit in the front marked rows. Parents with younger children must be seated behind the marked rows.
- July 17 at 10am don’t miss the Medieval Times knight with a special Medieval Story time performance.
- The last Story time for summer 2018 is Tuesday July 31 at 10am
- August 2 6pm – Ticketed event – End of Summer program for kids that complete 3 reading logs.
The library is happy to answer any questions, please call 903-885-4926 and you can visit us on Facebook or at www.sslibrary.org
Here’s to you, Mary Poppins! Thanks for your incredible wisdom, sass, and unending amounts of joy!
Special thanks to our prize sponsors! Shining Star Productions, Splash Kingdom, Shenaniganz, Urban Air, Medieval Times, Texas A & M, Grocery Supply, Dairy Queen, Pogo Pass, Escapology, Pizza Hut, Pizza Inn, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Alley Cats, Amazing Jakes, Texas Skatium, National Video Game Museum.
Tabernacle Baptist Church is Mission-Oriented…Local and Global
Pastor Mike Haun of Tabernacle Baptist Church at Pickton, Texas
Pastor Mike Haun and the congregation of Tabernacle Baptist Church believe in supporting the work of Christian missions. To name just one, they sponsor a Bible distribution and teaching ministry in Papua, New Guinea conducted by the Jason Brewer missionary family, originally of Sulphur Springs, Texas. And practically in their “own back yard” is the Holy Highway Girls Home which the Tabernacle Baptist Church family joyfully assists each Spring with a Fish Fry Fundraiser.
The public is invited to enjoy an all-you-can-eat fried catfish meal complete with homemade side items, iced tea and soft drinks on Saturday May 19 from 5-7 pm. It will be held inside the Family Life Center of Tabernacle Baptist Church on FM 269 North, just off Highway 11 at Pickton. You can reserve a table seating ten for a sponsor cost of $100. Individuals and families are welcome to eat by donation. For dessert, there will be homemade cakes and pies by the slice, many prepared by Holy Highway girls. An added feature of the event is the singing and testimonies by some of the students whose lives have benefited from the caring home-like atmosphere of the residential program. For details of the fundraiser, contact Pastor Haun at 972-754-6487 or the church office at 903-866-2315.
Holy Highway Girls Home is private Christian school on a working farm which assists girls ages 12-17 to overcome rebellion, substance abuse, personal abuse and emotional frustration. A Christian school education and Bible study is facilitated through The Academy, accredited through the National Association of Private Schools. The school depends on donations and tuition to maintain quality operation expenditures. If you would like to make a donation to the school, phone 903-866-3300 and find out more by visiting holyhighway.com.
Holy Highway Chapel
SSISD Board Celebrates Academic Accomplishments During May Meeting
Sulphur Springs School Board honored Peyton Dietze, Valedictorian of the Class of 2018 and Sarah Harper, Salutatorian of the Class, heard reports from various educational programs including Academic UIL achievements, reorganized the board, and conducted routine business during Tuesday night’s regular May session.
Incumbents Jason Dietze and Kerry Wright were given the oath of office for a three-year term. Neither candidate had an opponent for their place on the board. Robbin Vaughn was elected President, Robert Cody, Vice-President, and Clay Johnson, Secretary for the 2018-2019 year.
The board approved the purchase of a pickup for the SSISD Security Department and for equipment to update access control systems at Travis Primary and the Douglas campuses. They renewed contract service agreements with Region VIII Education Service Center and received a report on the 2018-2019 Head Start Self-Assessment Program Improvement Plan.
Updates on spring elementary, middle school, and high school Academic UIL and a presentation on Instructional Technology shared with the board gave an overview of the school year ending. Superintendent Michael Lamb presented the board a report on field trips during the current school year. The trips taken on all levels were primarily academic in nature although some field trips were rewards for student accomplishment.
Lamb’s report on the first round of 5th and 8th grad STAAR test scores showed improvement for the students over past STAAR tests. The comparison was made on previous scores by the same students at prior grade levels. The comparison of improvements was based on comparisons with state averages for the specific age group.
At the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC), 232 students, which is 76% of Kindergarten and Transitional Fisrt Grade are reading .
SSISD Places Second in Elementary Academic UIL Competiton
SSISD’s 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students participated in an Elementary Academic UIL competition on Saturday, March 24th, 2018. The contest was hosted at Pine Tree Middle School in Longview, TX. Our team was represented by 120 students, 33 coaches, and our five campus coordinators. Our students competed in 27 events ranging from number sense to storytelling. Our SSISD team earned second place standing overall. This is SSISD’s third year in recent history to participate in elementary UIL. Last year, the SSISD team finished first in the meet, but this year, they were very narrowly defeated by Hallsville.
Administrators believe the Academic UIL competition in the lower grades will provide a catalyst to more invovement of students in the high school UIL program.
- Results (Points) by School / Grade
| School | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | Total Points |
| Sulphur Springs | 49 | 149 | 216.5 | 298 | 712.5 |
| Hallsville | 98 | 130 | 155.5 | 354 | 737.5 |
| Pine Tree | 36 | 50 | 103 | 93 | 282 |
- Results by Grade / Event
- 2nd Grade (Campus Coordinators – Rachel Kistler, Chandra Crawford, Ana Ramirez)
| Event | Coach | Student(s) | Result |
| Music Memory | Alma Ramirez, Yadira Preciado, Anna Hicks | Julieth Tellez, Anika Fiock, Mitch Emmert | 1st Place, 3rd Place, 6th Place |
| Music Memory (Team) | Alma Ramirez, Yadira Preciado, Anna Hicks | Jocey Porter, Maximiliano Hernandez, Lily Morris, Mitch Emmert, Julieth Tellez, Anika Fiock | 2nd Place |
| Creative Writing | Cassie Fleming, Mariana Hernandez, Amy Tanton | Brielle Garing, Presley Smith | 1st Place, 2nd Place |
| Chess Puzzle | Lyndsay McCoy, Michelle Wallace, Justin Wilkerson | Caleb Tiemeyer | 4th Place |
| Chess Puzzle (Team) | Lyndsay McCoy, Michelle Wallace, Justin Wilkerson | Caleb Tiemeyer, Gabriel Castro, Dakota Gilpin, Brody Darrow | 3rd Place |
| Story Telling | Carla Brown, Monica Hernandez, Nikole Brown | Zoe Beall, Chloe Jenkins | 5th Place, 6th Place |
- 3rd Grade (Campus Coordinator – Sasha Posey)
| Event | Coach | Student(s) | Result |
| Music Memory | Danette Lovelady | Tray Smith, Colby Mayfield, Bailey Winn | 1st Place, 2nd Place, 4th Place |
| Music Memory (Team) | Danette Lovelady | Bailey Winn, Alexa Mendez, Kaylie Resendiz, Tray Smith, Colby Mayfield | 2nd Place |
| Ready Writing | Angela Grimes | Jessica Reed, Ian Townsend, Kiley Vaughan | 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 5th Place |
| Chess Puzzle | DaMarcus Johnson | Cooper Thesing, Piper Lilley, Zackary Young | 1st Place, 3rd Place, 5th Place |
| Chess Puzzle (Team) | DaMarcus Johnson | Piper Lilley, Cooper Thesing, Zackary Young, Jackson Lundell | 1st Place |
| Spelling | Shelby Gibson | Cameron Endsley, Kenzi White | 4th Place, 5th Place |
| Spelling (Team) | Shelby Gibson | Caemeron Endsley, Kenzi White, Vennie Perez, Gilbert Martinez | 1st Place |
| Story Telling | Brittany Hicks | Keely Montgomery, Adrian Salas, Aylaen Burrell | 3rd Place, 5th Place, 6th Place |
- 4th Grade (Campus Coordinator – Sasha Posey)
| Event | Coach | Student(s) | Result |
| Music Memory | Danette Lovelady | Anthony Small, Ben Lovelady, Nathan Bilyeu, Cason Walls | 1st Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, 5th Place |
| Music Memory (Team) | Danette Lovelady | Anthony Small, Ben Lovelady, Nathan Bilyeu, Cara Batterton, Cason Walls | 1st Place |
| Spelling | Carolyn Rowe | Brooks Burgin, Brooklyn Person, Abigail Bautista, Jaxson Haire | 1st Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, 5th Place |
| Spelling (Team) | Carolyn Rowe | Brooks Burgin, Brooklyn Person, Jaxson Haire, Abigail Bautista | 1st Place |
| Art | Charlotte Wilson | Kannon Gibson, Kendrie Roberts | 3rd Place, 4th Place |
| Art (Team) | Charlotte Wilson | Kendrie Roberts, Anderson Grimes, Edilyne Resendiz, Kannon Gibson, Chelsea Stribling | 3rd Place |
| Number Sense | Cynthia Taylor | Griff Arms, Addy Fenton, Dane Oud | 1st Place, 3rd Place, 5th Place |
| Number Sense (Team) | Cynthia Taylor | Addy Fenton, Tripp Townsend, Dane Oud, Griff Arms | 1st Place |
| Chess Puzzle | DaMarcus Johnson | Amber Elliott | 5th Place |
| Chess Puzzle (Team) | DaMarcus Johnson | Tate Young, Lucy McKenzie, Luke White, Amber Elliott | 3rd Place |
| Ready Writing | Jessica Gilbert | Amerson Boles, Tatum Thompson | 2nd Place, 4th Place |
| Oral Reading | Rachel Tubb | Hattie Thompson, Emma Boatman, Nathan Bilyeu | 1st Place, 2nd Place, 5th Place |
- 5th Grade (Campus Coordinator – Sandy Stidham)
| Event | Coach | Student(s) | Result |
| Art | Megan Wiggins | Ty Holt, McCaulin Rollison, Jackie Banda, Aidia Goldsmith | 1st Place, 1st Place (Tied), 3rd Place, 4th Place |
| Art (Team) | Megan Wiggins | Jackie Banda, Ty Holt, McCaulin Rollison, Jayden McDonald, Aidia Goldsmith, Tori Gutierrez | 1st Place |
| Listening | Amy Peters | Danielle Voyles | 3rd Place |
| Listening (Team) | Amy Peters | Danielle Voyles, Emerson Thompson, Jaden Allen, Kadin Lappin | 3rd Place |
| Dictionary Skills | Mellissa Fouse | Tracy Smithers, Sadie Barnett | 4th Place, 6th Place |
| Dictionary Skills (Team) | Melissa Fouse | Kaden Mitchell, Sadie Barnett, Tracy Smithers, Tatum Story | 2nd Place |
| Chess Puzzle | Pam Ash | Barrett Thesing, Brody Emmert, Levi Barnes, Gage Williams | 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place |
| Chess Puzzle (Team) | Pam Ash | Barrett Thesing, Brody Emmert, Levi Barnes, Gage Williams | 1st Place |
| Number Sense | Karen Moreland | Barrett Thesing | 3rd Place |
| Number Sense (Team) | Karen Moreland | Barrett Thesing, Miguel Correa, Jose Salas, Eddie Resendiz | 3rd Place |
| Music Memory | Deana Spraggins | Gavin Sills, Graham Mayo | 1st Place, 3rd Place |
| Music Memory (Team) | Deana Spraggins | Graham Mayo, Jayden McDonald, Ty Holt, Alexis Nickerson, Braylon Savage, Gavin Sills | 2nd Place |
| Oral Reading | Melissa Johnson | Zoe Reed, Coryn Young, Aspen Mayhew, Lauren Dittrich | 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 5th Place |
| Maps, Graphs, and Charts | Leesha Hartley | Sedon McCollom, Hanna Brewer | 4th Place, 6th Place |
| Maps, Graphs, and Charts (Team) | Leesah Hartley | Sedon McCollom, Hannah Brewer, Kaydence Ross, Gage Norman | 2nd Place |
| Spelling | Stephanie Ross | Andrew Richey, Sadie Barnett | 3rd Place, 5th Place |
| Spelling (Team) | Stephanie Ross | Sadie Barnett, Andrew Richey, Justin Debase, Abigail Tate | 2nd Place |
| Ready Writing | Nichole Petty | Reese Malone, Mackenzie Posey | 5th Place, 6th Place |
| Social Studies | Jairo Ramirez | Kaylyne Harper, Braylen Savage, Andrew Resendiz | 3rd Place, 5th Place, 6th Place |
| Social Studies (Team) | Jairo Ramirez | McKenna Meskimen, Kaylyne Harper, Braylen Savage, Andrew Resendiz | 2nd Place |
Early Voting Begins in Primary Runoff; 170 Ballots Cast on First Day
Early vote for the first day of the Primary Runoff Monday, May 14, 163 Republican and seven (7) Democrats cast ballots. A number of ballot by mail have also been sent out to those over 65 years of age who made the request, according to Hopkins County Clerk Debbie Shirley.
Early voting in the Primary Runoff Election continues 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day through Friday, May 18th. Early voting takes place at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom, 128 Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
Tuesday, May 22 is Primary Runoff Election Day with voting places open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Hopkins County registered voters may cast ballots at any of the voting places on that day. Voting places will include the Lutheran Church on Texas Street, the Courthouse downtown, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Fuller Street, and League Street Church of Christ., and Como-Pickton CISD on State Highway 11E.
Republicans are voting for nominees for Hopkins County Treasurer and Commissioner Precinct 2. Since there are not Democrat challengers, those who receive the nomination will be the only ones for those offices on the ballot in November. Democrats are voting in state runoff races only.
