Sulphur Springs Man Injured in Oklahoma Accident Monday
According to a Muskogee, Oklahoma news source, a Sulphur Springs man was flown to a Tulsa hospital following a single vehicle accident on I-40 near Webber Falls, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Garrett Jones, 21, of Sulphur Springs was in stable condition when admitted to Saint John Medical Center in Tulsa on Monday.
Jones’ 2004 Ford F-150 pickup was eastbound near the 285 mile marker Monday morning when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
Majel Reddick is Quilt Winner in Senior Citizen’s Center Fundraiser
Majel Redick (Shown in Photo) was so excited about winning the Quilt during the fundraising efforts for the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center. Thank you Roberta Vanderburg, Wilma Moss and Marti Rajotti of the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild for making the quilt. From this Winter fundraiser, over $500.00 was added to the Building Fund for a new Senior Citizens Building. Currently, the Building Fund is up to $ 35,273.00. Another fundraising effort includes a supply of two-year Celebrity Movie calendars which feature local senior citizens in famous movie costume. There are about 250 calendars remaining and are priced at $10. These 2018/2019 calendars are truly keepsake quality and make thoughtful gifts. If you would like to purchase one or more calendars, stop by the Senior Citizens Center at 150 MLK Drive in Sulphur Springs and see director Karon Weatherman. Or, if you would like to make a tax-deductible donation towards the building of a larger, more efficient Seniors Center, all donations are welcome. Checks can be mailed to 150 MLK Drive, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482. Please mark checks “Seniors Building Fund”.
“Human Trafficking: It’s Closer Than You Think” Presentation at SSMS
Steve Phillips, co-director of Heart of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Sulphur Springs introduced the speaker
A sizable crowd of concerned citizens attended a presentation about human trafficking on Tuesday March 20 at Sulphur Springs Middle School. Because of our proximity to Interstate 30, a major transport artery, co-directors Steve and Pam Phillips of the local non-profit NE Texas Heart of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center felt it was time for local citizens to become more aware of this growing problem.
Laurie McGehee, Manager of Probation Services for Caddo Parish Juvenile Services Department was the speaker. She is also involved in the “I-20 Coalition”, a group of agencies and concerned citizens who live and work along the Interstate 20 corridor from Ft. Worth , Texas to Jackson, Mississippi. She is also is part of a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement and child welfare agencies, public defenders, probation officers, US Marshalls and FBI. This team is reaching out for public awareness of human trafficking along the I-30 corridor which stretches through Hopkins County. During the presentation, tips were given about warning signs and characteristics of individuals being trafficked for sex or labor as well as tips on how to protect your children. Among other facts presented were that on the average, trafficked victims are most often females 11-13 years old, but that numbers of young male victims are on the rise. Victims are often “marked” or targeted through social media after making expressions of being lonely, scared or wishing to run away, and they become “high risk” for trafficking. Persons who make initial contact with high-risk individuals may seem very nice and even loving, promising to help them achieve a better life.
McGehee referred to Mazlow’s Heirarchy of Needs, a psychology chart which defines the levels of human need and the motivation to fulfill these needs. Persons who are in need of the lowest and most basic: food, water, shelter, etc. are often the most vulnerable. They can become targets for operators in the trafficking business. In time, these operators can also become the victim’s vehicle to move up the chart of psychological need to receive safety, love or belonging to a group. This pattern makes it difficult for the victim to get out of “the life” once they have become introduced to it.
The Heart of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Sulphur Springs can provide parents and other concerned persons with materials needed to be aware of the rise in human trafficking. The office is located at 407 South Davis Street. Or you can contact [email protected] or 903-440-1665. Or find out more by contacting local law enforcement agencies or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
PJC Regents Approve Associate Degree in Surgical Technology
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents approved a new associate of applied science in surgical technology at its meeting this week. The move comes in response to changes from the Accreditation Review Committee in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA).
Currently PJC offers a Certificate in Surgical Technology that is accredited through ARC-STSA. By 2021, however, ARC-STSA will require all programs to offer an associate degree.
In other business, the Regents:
- Opted out of the State Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign in order to support local giving. Donations collected in Hunt and Lamar counties will go to local United Way campaigns.
- Approved course fee changes for Fall 2018.
- Approved a new ten-year contract with Aramark, after the company made improvements in the past year to cafeteria service which included new management. In return for the length of the contract, the company will make significant renovations to the kitchen and dining facilities over the next five years. Any meal plan price increases may not exceed increases in the Consumer Price Index.
- Received an annual report from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the financial condition of Texas community colleges. The general trend shows more colleges under significant financial stress. PJC continues to be in good financial shape, showing no financial stress factors.
- Heard a report on the Facilities Master Plan. This is in the process of being updated to reflect campus improvements and other needs.
- Accepted the resignation of Women’s Basketball Coach Gonzalo Garza effective May 11 and acted on faculty contract renewals for 2018-2019.
New Signs, Playground Equipment on Order; Boundaries Yet to Be Determined
Boundaries have not been drawn but new playground equipment and new signs for lower grade campuses are on order and should arrive prior to the start of the 2018-2019 school year, according to Sulphur Springs School Superintendent Michael Lamb. Lamb said the new equipment and new signs have been needed for some time but the purchase had been delayed in anticipation of changes in purpose of some lower grade campuses.
Boundaries for each campus area served have not been drawn. Registration numbers will drive the lines drawn for each lower grade school. The administration awaits the registration numbers that will be available later in the school year.
The restructure of lower grade campuses was approved by the Sulphur Springs School Board during a Monday, March 19, 2018, afternoon special session (See previous story here). The restructure will allow students to stay on the same campus longer utilizing the K-3rd grade structure for four campuses. The restructure, which has been a desire of Superintendent Michael Lamb since his taking office, will ultimately place four classes of four grades on each of the four lower grade schools and will create a repurposing of two buildings in the district. The changes will begin with the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Updated: Sexton Now in Hopkins County Jail for Local Robbery, Other Charges
Arrested in Marietta, Oklahoma by U S Marshalls after committing an aggravated robbery at Jon’s Mini Mart on Hillcrest Dr. in Sulphur Springs, Tracy Kenyon Sexton, 52, of Springdale, Arkansas is now in Hopkins County Jail held on a $350,000 bond.
Sexton admitted to the crime and was booked into Hopkins County Jail by Sulphur Springs Police Detectives. Sexton is also shown to have a parole warrant out of Arkansas and an aggravated robbery warrant out of Arlington, Texas. The female companion remains in Oklahoma where she is held on a Hindering Apprehension of a Felon charge.
Wednesday local officers recovered Sexton’s clothing and the weapon used in the robbery. The weapon was a pellet gun.
On Friday, March 16, 2018, Sexton and a female, left the Mini Mart and sought access to the interstate. However, they entered the Woodbridge Crossing area, which has no access to the interstate and returned to Hillcrest and then to the interstate and traveled west. Less than $1,000 was taken in the robbery. An employee of the mini mart took a picture of their vehicle which police were able to use in their investigation.
Following a social media post by the police department, tips began coming into the local police office. The pair was located at a Lake Dallas hotel where Lake Dallas police ran a raid on the room where the couple was supposedly staying. The couple was not in the room when police entered but were across the street and observed the raid. They left the area finding a ride to Gainesville and then on to Marietta, Oklahoma, according to local law enforcement. The truck used in the robbery was placed in impound by Lake Dallas police.
A phone call from a Marietta hotel led local law enforcement to contact the Marietta deputies and their task force surrounded the hotel after confirming the female had secured a room there. Law enforcement made entry into the room and arrested both individuals.
Lady Cats Finish Third in District
The Lady Cats’ soccer team ended district play with a 3-0 loss at Hallsville Tuesday night. The Lady Bobcats, the champions of district 16-5A, did not give up a single goal in twelve district games. The Lady Cats district record slips to 7-5 and they are 15-7-3 for the season.
The Lady Cats end up as the third place team in the district. They will face the number two playoff seed in district 15-5A in a bi-district game next week with details to be determined.
Wildcat Soccer Earns Playoff Berth with Senior Night Win
The Wildcats’ soccer team earned a playoff berth with a 1-0 win over Hallsville Tuesday night on Senior Night at Gerald Prim Stadium. This is the third straight year that the Wildcats have made the playoffs by knocking the Bobcats out of the playoffs with a victory in the final district game. The past two years, the game was in Hallsville.
Game Saver: Wildcats goalkeeper Jonathan Lopez stops the Hallsville penalty kick, which preserves the 1-0 lead and victory.
Tuesday night the Wildcats got a goal from senior Angel Tavera at the 27:06 mark of the first half and then held on to the lead. Wildcats goalkeeper Jonathan Lopez, despite being hampered by an aggravated muscle pull, turned in a stellar performance. Lopez blocked a potential tying penalty kick taken by the Bobcats Alan Acuna at 15:30 in the first half. The Wildcats defense did a good job of frustrating the Bobcats’ offense all night.
The Wildcats improved their district record to 6-6 and they are now 13-12 for the season. As the fourth playoff seed in district 16-5A, the Wildcats will play the champion of district 15-5A in a bi-district game next week with details to be determined.
Before the game the Wildcats recognized twelve seniors, Rafael Lopez, Jonathan Lopez, Israel Hernandez, Julio Robles, Angel Tavera, Jonathan Alvarez, Brandon Diosdado, Christian Huff, D.J. Abron, Eduardo Ramirez, Omar Ramirez and Ramon Hernandez.
Lady Cats Defeat Texas High; Now 5-0 in District Play
The Lady Cats’ softball team fell behind by a 4-0 score after two innings before scoring six unanswered runs to defeat the Texas High Lady Tigers, 6-4 Tuesday night at Lady Cat Park.
Texas High scored all four of their runs in the top of the second inning. The Lady Cats got two runs back in the bottom of the third and then grabbed the lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Both teams had six hits. The Lady Tigers made two errors and the Lady Cats one.
The big blow in the Lady Cats huge four run sixth inning was a triple by Alli Fite as three runs scored. Fite was 1 for 2 with one run scored, a walk and two RBIs. Five other Lady Cats got singles: Alyssa Abron, Kelsey Wallace, Sadie Stroud, Kate Womack and Karlee Adams. Abron, Wallace, Womack, Adams and Macee Hollins also scored runs. Hollins also walked twice and Abron also walked once. Abron and Wallace also stole a base.
Bailey Haggerty got the pitching win going seven innings allowing 4 runs and 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2. The Lady Cats improve to 5-0 in district play and they are 18-4 for the season.
The 5-0 district start is the best ever by a David Carrillo-coached Lady Cats team. After an open date Friday, the Lady Cats go to Mount Pleasant next Tuesday night. That game will complete the first half of district play.
