Hopkins County Unemployment Goes Up But Still Below Texas Average
October 5, 2023 – In the latest report from August 2023, Hopkins County posted an unemployment rate of 3.8%, compared to a rate of 3.7% in July 2023. The new August number is and increase as well over one year ago as the August 2022 rate came in at 3.3%.
Hopkins County continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in our nine-county region which includes the counties of Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Lamar, Morris, Red River and Titus along with Hopkins County.
The overall average for our nine-county region stayed at 4.7% for August which was the same 4.7% rate for July 2023 and a slight increase from a year ago at 4.5% for August 2022. The Texas average unemployment rate is 4.5% and Hopkins County has the same rate this month as the National avereage of 3.8%.
September Unemployment numbers are due to be released October 20th.
Biden Administration Approves $9 Billion in Student Loan Forgiveness
October 5, 2023 – President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he approved $9 billion in student loan forgiveness that will affect 125,000 student loan borrowers. That amount equals approximately $72,000 per borrower and is a result of the administration’s changes to several programs including the income-driven repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
The breakdown of the total $9 billion dollars is comprised of $5 billion in aid that will go to 53,000 borrowers who have worked in public service for a decade or more, $2.8 billion dollars will go to 51,000 borrowers that have enrolled in the “income-driven repayment plans” and the final $1.2 billion dollars will be cancellation of debts of 22,000 borrowers with disabilites.
One expert noted that Biden has forgiven more student loan debt than any previous president and the timing of this latest round of loan forgiveness is likely in hopes of appealing to voters in the next election. The latest forgiveness comes months after the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for tens of millions of Americans. After that setback, Biden said he’d pursue other paths to deliver borrowers relief.
SSHS Wildcat Tennis Takes Second in District
Congratulations are in order for the Wildcat Tennis team! The SSHS Wildcat tennis team took 2nd place in district this week and will now advance the playoffs next week!
Malachi Negrete and Ian Westlund, both juniors, won in doubles for the boys.
Stori Shropshire, sophomore, and Anna-Claire Newsom, freshman, won in singles for the girls.
They play Kilgore at Lindale High School tennis courts on Monday, October 9 at 9:30 am!
Pen of 3 Success For Fourteen Sulphur Springs FFA Members
This past weekend the 3rd Annual Pen of 3 Commercial Heifer Show was held at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Pictured on the left is Catherine Starzyk who won the Senior Herdsman award. She was interviewed in front of two judges and answered questions about her pen of heifers. Pictured on the right is Kohen Moss who was the Open Division Champion.
Fourteen Sulphur Springs FFA Members showed and sold a pen of heifers. They all started with 4-6 head of commercial heifers and raised them to breeding age. This is a huge financial investment for these students and families. The sale was a success this year! These fourteen students received a total of $132,000 that will go toward expenses/investing in the next set of heifers or to their college savings.
This is one of my favorite shows because it brings the true industry experience into the show world.
– John Holland, SSHS FFA Advisor
The Ninth Annual George Dorner “42” Tournament is Coming up November 4th, 2023
The Ninth Annual George Dorner “42” Tournament will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023, beginning with registration at 9:00AM. Play starts at 9:30AM. The event will take place at Sulphur Bluff United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Proceeds go toward Bibles for Sulphur Bluff graduating Seniors. Early registration is open until October 24th, 2023, at $10.00 a person. After October 24th, registration is $25.00 per team. The top three teams will win metal plaques. Pizza, drinks, and a dessert will be offered for a donation. “If you do not play, come eat, and be a part!” For more information, please call Jimmy Dale and Jamie Fite at 903-335-3068.
Hopkins County Records – August 2023
Report of Marriage Documents for Hopkins County
8/11/23 Thru 8/17/23
- Jason Eddie Adcock and Jennifer Ann Mars
- Jesse James Lee Brown and Cassity Leeann Egan
- Jacob Adam Crawford and Samantha Nicole Pitts
- Cody J Lewis and Kendra Lee Diehl
- Joseph Chance Loraine and Brittany Ranee Perry
- Octavio Machado and Joseline Guzman
- Anthony William Mowrer and Madison Mackenzie Beard
- Johnathan Mikel Simpson and Brooklyn Lyric Martin
Land Deed Transactions 8/31/23 Thru 9/1/23
- Angela K Harrison, and Jon Harrison Also Known As Jon E Harrison to Jordan R Grant and Leah C Grant; Tract in the Winnie Jewell Survey
- Shanti Homes Inc to Salma B HosJusain; Tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin Survey
- Ashley Hammons and Tracy Hammons Jr to Julita Hammons and Tracy Wayne Hammons; Tract in the Daniel Halbrook Survey
- Juan Guzman and Estefana Perez to Gregorio Maravillo Bello, Miriam Uveranice Maravillo, and Blanca Amaro Pineda; Tract in the Ross St Survey
- Santos Alfredo Cruz to Hunter Williams and Maison Williams; Tract in the Marianne Circle Survey
- Glenn Meisdalen to Patsene Kirby; Tract in the E Finley Survey
Paris Junior College Employees are on Hand to Help Students With Testing Preparation
October 3, 2023 – PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Testing Proctor Cathey Martin, left, helps Presley Hurley set up her computer and get ready to take her entrance tests.
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.
Trucking In The U.S. May Not Be What You Think
October 3, 2023 – Trucking in the United States may not be what you think. Small Owner-Operators and Contract Truckers are being forced out by cheap competition provided by Mexico based carriers. These same Carriers sometimes bend the laws set by the United States and create an unfair playing field.
KSST spoke with a local truck driver and his wife, who is a Freight Agent, about the state of the industry. They were able to give personal insight into this issue.
Omar began his explanation of the issues by giving an example. Suppose a Mexico based freight company wins a bid to move a shipment from Mexico to New York. They are allowed to cross the border, and continue to New York without changing driver, truck or company. Seems logical enough. That trucker is required to return to Mexico within a 10 day window. That company is allowed to fill that same truck with freight and return to Mexico loaded. If no jobs to Mexico are available, they are allowed to move freight to another US location in the direction of the border, for example Dallas. That freight is moved at the Mexico based rate, and that money goes to Mexican based companies. This allowance is intended to improve efficiency and prevent a truck returning to Mexico empty. The problem is, during those 10 days, Mexico based companies are not recalling drivers, but instead are sending them on jobs all around the United States, moving freight at a fraction of the rate US based carriers can charge. Omar feels that often those drivers overstay their allowed 10 days, and work for months in the United States before returning to Mexico.
To maximize profits, Mexican Freight companies also employ two person driving teams that keep the trucks running almost constantly.
There is a also a huge difference in the cost of doing business for Mexican carriers v.s. US based firms. This can include cost of labor, repairs and parts costs.
Gabriela sees the other side of this issue when she attempts to bid on jobs. When she has to charge around $3 a mile to survive, and a Mexico based carrier can charge as little as $1.50, there is no way for her family to compete.
U.S. Inflation also cuts into their profits. The cost of diesel and meals on the road, repairs, tires.. everything is more expensive. They know several owner-operators who have sold their trucks and taken other jobs. Omar and Gabriela have also reduced their fleet of trucks in an attempt to stay afloat.
Omar has a passion for driving. He doesn’t want to consider selling his truck. He drives because he loves it, not just because it makes money.
Omar and his wife point to the laws and regulations already on the books as the first step to leveling the playing field. They feel enforcement has been very lax recently, rewarding these practices.
The demand for cheap goods, delivered as cheaply quickly as possible will continue. We all want full shelves and packages delivered quickly. Trucking makes sure all those things happen. Right now, the cost of those conveniences include hard and uncertain times for families like Omar’s.
Fire Event Encourages Young Women to Explore a Career in Wildland Firefighting
October 2, 2023 – PALO PINTO, Texas – Texas A&M Forest Service hosted the third annual Sisters in Fire event Sept. 30 at Worth Ranch, a Longhorn Council BSA property. Thirty-five young women between the ages of 13 and 18 from 22 Texas counties and one Oklahoma county attended the event.
“The Sisters in Fire program was created to introduce young women to wildland firefighting and natural resource careers,” said Emily Mitchell, Sisters in Fire Incident Commander. “This year we had women from across the state of Texas and one from Kansas who are introducing their professions and passions to the young women of Texas.”
Participants were split into squads, or teams, for the day and rotated through four stations. Each station introduced them to various topics and skills relating to the wildland firefighting profession, including how to suppress wildfires with fire engines, bulldozers, chainsaws and hand tools. They also learned leadership and communication skills that are critical for wildland firefighting crews.
“My favorite part of the day was meeting new people and getting to take on a leadership role,” said Emma, Sisters in Fire participant.
At this year’s event, a Fire Boss from Dauntless Air, an amphibious aircraft frequently used on Texas wildfires, made two water drops, helping demonstrate the coordination needed between aerial firefighting resources and ground personnel during a wildfire incident.
“The Fire Boss (AT-802F) aircraft is an essential part of our air operations during wildfire season,” said Cassidy Ince, Texas A&M Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft System Program Coordinator and Sisters in Fire squad boss. “This was a great opportunity for our participants to witness this incredible aircraft and skilled pilot perform a water drop.”
Participants put everything they learned to the test during the final event of the day, a prescribed fire demonstration. While the instructors burned a small area of grass, the young women answered questions and applied what they learned to a real-world scenario.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, women account for a small percentage of career firefighters, including 5% of all career firefighters, 11% of volunteer fire service and 12% of federal wildland firefighters.
“Our program introduces young women to a variety of career opportunities associated with wildland firefighting that some may have not even realized were available to them,” said Mitchell. It also provides our leadership team opportunities to network, build relationships with other women and develop personally through training opportunities.”
The Sisters in Fire event was hosted in cooperation with Texas A&M Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, University of Texas LBJ Wildflower Center, and Kansas Forest Service
“Having all of these agencies here shows that we are all doing similar things, and we all have a role to fill with wildfire and land management, said Ashley Samberson, United States Fish & Wildlife Service. We want to support each other during wildfire suppression and outside of wildfires on programs like this and others.”
For event photos, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAX3kn.
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Barbara Bush Primary Will Host a Halloween Carnival October 6th
October 2, 2023 – Barbara Bush Primary School invites Students and Family to their Annual Halloween Carnival Friday, October 6, 2023, beginning at 5:30pm, at the Barbara Bush Primary Campus. You can expect Carnival Games, a Silent Auction, snacks, and more. Cost is $1 for two tickets, $5 for ten tickets, and $10 for an unlimited wristband.
