PJC Holds GED Graduation Ceremony
Nearly 50 students were recognized recently during a ceremony held by the Paris Junior College Adult Education Department. The keynote speaker, Blake Moore, is a graduate himself of the Adult Education Program at PJC-Sulphur Springs Center.
Keynote speaker at the recent PJC GED graduation ceremony was Blake Moore, a GED graduate and current PJC-Sulphur Springs Center student planning to transfer to Texas A&M University – Commerce in the fall.
Born and raised in Sulphur Springs, Moore obtained his GED certificate from the PJC program and now works full-time at an auto parts store while he majors in psychology, taking classes at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. He is a recent inductee into Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society, and is planning to transfer to Texas A&M University – Commerce this fall. Despite his busy schedule, he still returns to help tutor other GED students.
“Tonight I would like to say ‘congratulations’ to the GED recipients of 2017,” said Moore. “I remember this time last year. I was in the very seat you’re sitting in and I can still taste the nervousness I was feeling. I thought I had a plan of what I was going to do; I thought I knew what I was going to get a degree in; but I found my passion, my calling. Learn something new every day – knowledge is an ocean and don’t be afraid of the sharks.”
Moore related a story of a man seeking a guru to find the secret of success. The guru held the man’s head underwater until he was fighting to get free and take a breath. At last, the guru released him and said, “you wanted to know the secret of success. Remember a few minutes ago how badly you wanted to take that next breath of air? When you want success that badly, you will have it.”
“How badly do you want success?” Moore challenged the graduates.
Clarissa Dial of Sulphur Springs, above, was among five the GED graduates inducted into the Adult Education Honor Society during recent ceremonies.
Five students were inducted into the National Adult Education Honor Society. For this achievement, students must be nominated by an instructor and demonstrate the attributes of dependable attendance, cooperative attitude, and good work ethic. Inductees included Vickie DeVore, Clarissa Dial, Georgia McGregor, Esmeralda Sanchez, and Annie Shipman.
Receiving scholarships at the GED ceremony were DeVore, recipient of the United Way Scholarship for the graduate with the highest GPA, and Lazarus Meek, recipient of the Adult Education and Literacy Scholarship for most outstanding student in the program.
Those receiving their GED certifications, by town, included:
Brashear: Zachary Escobedo
Commerce: Jered Weimar and Diana Godsell
Lazarus Meek of Sulphur Springs, above, received the Adult Education and Literacy Scholarship for most outstanding student in the program at the Paris Junior College GED graduation.
Cooper: Autumn Herndon
Cumby: Jenifer Young
Emory: Ryan Putnam
Pickton: Jonathan Barth and Ma. Guadalupe Ledesma
Sulphur Springs: Amber Baxley, Kaela Carter, Clarissa Dial, Dakota Donald, Lazarus Meek, Olympia Murillo, Arianna Patterson, Anna Scott, and Jesica Solis
Winnsboro: Rebecca Bryant
Crouch Named Texas Music Scholar
Chase Crouch, a sophomore at Sulphur Springs High School, will be honored as a Texas Music Scholar at a ceremony during the Sulphur Springs High School Fine Arts Showcase Tuesday night May 16, 2017 in the SSHS Auditorium, according to the Texas Music Educators Association. The Texas Music Scholar Award designates students in high school music programs who exemplify attributes of meritorious performance in the areas of scholarship, musicianship, and citizenship.
Nominated for the honor by strings director Zander Smith, the award is given by the Texas Music Educations Association, which sponsors the Texas All-State Bands, Orchestras, and Choirs. Last year fewer than 2,300 students were named as Texas Music Scholars. The award is given to students who have exhibited outstanding qualities in scholastic merit, musicianship, and citizenship in their school and community during the 2016-2017 school year.
The Texas Music Educators Association, headquartered in Austin, is an association of over 12,00 music teachers whose goals are to support music education in Texas, provide professional growth opportunities for educators, foster public support for music in schools and offer quality musical experiences for students.
Final Week of Wildcats Spring Football Underway
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said Monday’s spring practice was the best Monday the team has had this spring. The team practiced outside. Coach Owens said it was hot but a breeze helped. He said the practice was spirited. He felt the defense probably got the best of the offense. Coach Owens said it was good to see players click and improve on both sides of the ball. He said some of the coaches were having their patience grow thin expecting players to get better quicker and he said they were cranking up the tempo since this was the final week of spring practice. Coach Owens said a blitz drill Monday was beneficial to both offensive and defensive players. He said coaches would squeeze in a little practice time Tuesday right after school and before 7 on 7 competition with Gilmer gets underway at around 5 p.m. After one final big practice Wednesday, Coach Owens said the team would take off on Thursday before Friday’s 6 p.m. Spring Game at the high school track field. In case of wet weather, the game will move to the Multipurpose Building.
Monday also marked the first spring appearance of Wildcats’ quarterback Ryan Humphries. He has been playing baseball. Humphries said it was great to be back, He said returning to football practice was like Christmas for him. Humphries said he was super excited to be back and was also excited about this fall. It’s his third year as Wildcats’ quarterback and he said he hoped this coming year would be a lot better than his first two years. Humphries said he did a lot more running Monday than he was required to do pitching and playing shortstop. He will also be playing 7 on 7 against Gilmer Tuesday and he said he looked forward to chunking the football and scoring a lot of points. Humphries said 7 on 7 is all about working on timing with his receivers.
Nine Wildcats Named to 16-5A All-District Baseball Team
Nine Wildcats’ baseball players and Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack made the All-District Baseball Team as selected by the coaches in District 16-5A. The Wildcats earned three superlatives.
Junior pitcher and first baseman Triston McCormick was named the district’s Most Valuable Player. McCormick was 4-1 pitching in district play with a 1.63 earned run average. He also hit .424 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI’s. Coach Hammack said McCormick was first Wildcat District MVP since Brittain Diamond, who played in 2007 and 2008.
Junior Ryan Humphries was selected as the district Co-Pitcher of the Year. Humphries had a 5-1 district record and a 1.90 ERA with 43 strikeouts.
Kaden Argenbright was chosen as Sophomore of the Year. He hit .369 with 7 RBI’s and 9 runs scored in district play.
Senior Mason Buck was named a First Team All-District Outfielder. Buck his .367 with four doubles, one home run and 5 RBI’s.
Senior Michael Arnold made the second team as an infielder and senior Heston Golightly was named to the second team as an outfielder.
Three Wildcats received Honorable Mention status: outfielder Gavin Millsap, infielder Easton Silman and infielder Dawson Draper.
Coach Hammack was named co-Coach of the Year along with Hallsville Coach Scott Mitchell.
Naked Man Backs Up Traffic on South Broadway
If you were on South Broadway between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday night, you know why traffic was backed up. A 44-year old Sulphur Springs man was walking northbound in the left turn lane in the midst of heavy traffic. He was naked.
The man is charged with Indecent Exposure and with Obstruction of Roadway. He was arrested but not handcuffed due to a handicapped arm.
Minor Traffic Violation in Drug Free Zone Results in Arrest
Sulphur Springs Police stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation. When Mark Rayburn Stuart, 30, of Cumby began acting nervous, he was asked for permission to search the vehicle. The officers observed Stuart making furtive movements towards his left front jeans pocket. There the officer located three yellow pills believed to be hydrocodone.
Stuart is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 3 less than 28-grams in a Drug Free Zone.
Saltillo Man Charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon
A man with a shotgun, shouting, and cursing in the area of Saltillo Baptist Church called for the response of Hopkins County Deputies around 6 p.m. Monday. A woman said the man arrived at the church looking for her dog that, he said, had bitten his son.
In the church parking lot, the woman she rolled up the window of her vehicle and the man pointed the shotgun at her and began acting out as if he was shooting her, according to her statement to deputies. She then went home and Gary Don Smith, 42, of Saltillo, followed her stating he was looking for the dog. At her residence, Smith said he was taking the dog to his residence to shoot it.
Smith denied pointing the gun towards the woman and said he “just wanted the Deputies to take him to jail.” They did.
Smith is charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon and is held on a $30,000 bond.
Three Arrested Near Cumby with Stolen Firearm
May 16, 2017 – A traffic stop at the 112 mile marker by Cumby Police at 1:22 a.m. Tuesday morning led to the arrest of Brandon Braswell, 30, Memphis, Tennessee, Shantoine Derenzo Powell, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, and Cordero K Ragland, 25, of Memphis, TN. (Some images not available from local jail.)
Cordero Ragland
The odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle led to a probable cause search and the discovery of a stolen firearm in the passenger front seat pouch near the backseat.
Shantoine Derenzo Powell, 2017
All three were taken to Hopkins County Jail and charged with Unlawful Possession of a firearm.
At the jail Braswelll placed something in his mouth. When asked to open his mouth, a green leafy substance was noted. He was ordered to spit it out. The substance was found to be marijuana. Braswell was able to
Brandon Braswell
swallow most of the evidence. He was also charged with Tamper/Fabricate Evidence. As a felon, he was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. He is being held on a total of $25,000 in bonds.
Powell was charged with Theft of a Firearm and is held on a $5,000 bond.
RAGLAND, CORDERO 2017
Ragland was charged with Theft of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. He is held on bonds totaling $15,000. In February of this year, Ragland was arrested in Memphis for drag racing, two counts of aggravated assault, and driving with a suspended license following a drag racing incident in which one driver was transported to a Memphis hospital in critical condition and Ragland was in non-critical condition. He has previous arrests on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and criminal trespass.
