Flynn Sponsors Senate “Chicken Bill” in Texas House
Several cities across the state have ordinances that ban raising backyard chickens in residential areas. Interested parties observe that these ordinances inhibit individuals from owning chickens as pets and having safe, fresh eggs readily available. This prohibition also makes it more difficult for students in 4-H and Future Farmers of America to raise chickens for show. Senate Bill 1620 removes prohibitions on residents raising six or fewer backyard chickens. This allows families to have the choice to have home-raised eggs and eliminates local barriers for students raising chickens for educational purposes.
I am proud to sponsor this bill in the House for Senator Van Taylor, and look forward to having it passed in the House. 
Bell Named AD, Head Basketball Coach at North Hopkins; Has Coached Brock to Two State Championship
North Hopkins ISD Board of Trustees hired Jeff Bell to be athletic director and head basketball coach, beginning July 1, 2017. Coach Bell comes to North Hopkins following a stint at Fort Worth Christian Academy. He has coached at Bland, Midway, and Brock ISD. While at Brock he won two state championships (2002, 2003) and was a state finalist twice (2012, 2013).
Superintendent Darin Jolly said, “Coach Bell will be an asset to North Hopkins ISD. He has high expectations for excellence for all sports and his positive leadership will be contagious in our culture, based on his passion for kids. I’m glad to have him in board early as we prepare for next school year. Our school has amazing students and staff with a bright future ahead. I believe Coach Bell will guide our athletes and coaches to their personal best and team success.”
During his 35 years as a coach and 32 years as a head coach, he has an overall record of 775 wins and 272 losses. His teams have won 20 district championships, made nine appearances in regional tournaments and four in state tournaments including the two championships. His 2002 Brock team was the Texas Cup State Champ and the Lone Star Cup Champ in 2009 and 2010.
Bell was named District Coach of the Year 19 times, was Texas Sports Writers Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2003, TABC Coach of the Year in 2010, TABC All-Star Coach in 2001 and 2011. He coached 23 All State players and has been a speaker at the TABC Clinic and written numerous basketball articles for Texas Basketball.
Bell stated, “I am extremely excited for this tremendous opportunity to be the new Athletic Director and Head Boys Basketball at North Hopkins ISD. I appreciate Dr. Darin Jolly Superintendent of Schools for affording me this great privilege of serving the community and students of North Hopkins. I look forward to many years of service.”
He is married to Jennifer and has three children, Josh, Jordan, and Jake. Jake is Head Boys Basketball Coach at Martins Mill.
Free Ladies Seminar at Grace Family Church
Betty Caudle and members of the Ladies of Grace organization at Grace Family Church in Sulphur Springs are inviting all area ladies in and around Hopkins County to attend a free seminar for women this weekend. Peggy Joyce Ruth and her daughter Anjelica Schum will be speakers at the free seminar on Friday May 19 from 5-7 pm and on Saturday May 20 from 9 am til 2 pm, hosted in the Fellowship Hall of Grace Family Church, 1901 East Loop 301 in Sulphur Springs. Both women are authors and are popular speakers for conferences. Ms. Ruth’s original book “Psalms 91” has blossomed into six original works and a traveling ministry. Find out more about her at peggyjoyceruth.org. There will be snacks and a light lunch provided by the Ladies of Grace.
Lights of Life Campaign Chairs Announce Campaign Theme, Goal and Projects
Lights of Life Campaign Chairs, Charles and Sharon Helm announced the campaign & gala theme, goal and projects to the committee at the first campaign meeting which was held on Tuesday, May 16th at noon at the Southwest Dairy Museum. The committee was excited to learn the theme of this year’s Gala: Jewel of the Nile.
Sharon Helm recently returned from a visit to Egypt and she stated, “The Nile River is truly the life of Egypt. Nothing would exist but the desert without the Nile. This is the way Charles & I feel about our local hospital. We believe it is the lifeblood of this community. We all want to live in an area that has a good hospital with the latest, updated equipment possible, in order to provide the greatest care.”
Long time Gala Designer Kent Smith explained the vision of the gala decorations to the committee. “It is going to be something the guests have NEVER seen before…It’s going to be outstanding.” The fun will begin at 6:00, January 27th and continue throughout the night with dinner, live and silent auction bidding and dancing. We are bringing back the incredible band: Downtown Fever. This band knows how to bring a party to life and the crowd to their feet.
“This year, the Foundation Board of Directors increased the campaign goal to $300,000 and I’m certain with Charles and Sharon’s positive attitude, this will be a tremendously successful year. Of course we couldn’t reach our goal without the generosity of this wonderful and supportive community. We are blessed every year to have dedicated leaders chair the campaign and I’m certain Charles and Sharon will do an outstanding job”, said Meredith Caddell, Foundation Director.
On April 26th, the Foundation Board approved the projects that will be funded with the money raised through this year’s campaign. With the continued generous support from the community the Foundation will be able to purchase:
- Pre-vacuum Steam Sterilizer – $50,000
We are partnering with the hospital to upgrade this critical piece of equipment. This Sterilizer will continue to assure that all instruments are sterile for every procedure.
- Cardiac Monitor – $30,000
This monitor gives the ability to have consistent cardiac monitoring and capability of transmissions to cardiology & ER. Included on these monitors are CO2 monitoring & detection; Wi-Fi Transmission and on board charging.
- Newborn Hearing Screening Machine – $20,000
This machine will assure that the 600-700 babies born each year at CHRISTUS Mother Frances-Sulphur Springs are screened with a dependable machine. Early detection of hearing loss is imperative to the future of a child.
- LUCAS CPR Device – $19,800
This piece of equipment will perform CPR on a patient, giving the paramedics the freedom to assist the patient in other ways. This purchase will assure that ALL of our ambulances are equipped with a CPR device.
- Pressure Sensor Bed Alarms – $7,300
These alarms will be an enhancement to the security measures we take to make sure patients are safe. Patients will no longer be able to unhook an alarm and risk the potential of a fall. These alarms are pressure controlled, so if a patient gets up, a nurse will be notified immediately.
- 3 High Density Monitors – $6,900
High Density Monitors will enhance surgeons’ abilities to read scans, x-rays, etc. AND it will aid surgeons when performing surgeries using a scope.
- Endowment Fund – $50,000
The Foundation is committed to annually adding to the Foundation’s Leaving a Legacy Endowment Fund.
“Sponsor solicitation letters will go out June 1st but we’re already receiving calls and commitments, which mean the Gala will be sold out again. It’s a wonderful problem to have. The community has certainly embraced this campaign over the past years and together we have made a huge difference for our hospital and our community” continued Caddell.
“Sharon & I have been fortunate to be able to travel the world with our business and after multiple years of being gone for months at a time, we decided it was time to come back home. When colleagues asked us why we could come back to Sulphur Springs, TX, we told them that there is not another community in this world that has the legacy of helping, supporting and caring as this one does. Sharon and I are honored to be chairs of the Lights of Life campaign and look forward to continuing the legacy,” expressed Charles Helm.
If you cannot attend the gala but still want to support your local hospital and the campaign, contributions may be made with a donation to the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation any time throughout the year. Additional opportunities to become involved and support the campaign are by participating, attending and/or donating to the the Style Show, hosted by Lou Nell’s on September 14, the Quarter Auction on November 2nd, the Fly Your Flag Campaign and the Lights of Life Christmas tree lighting event November 30th in The Gardens at CHRISTUS. All contributions help to make a difference for our community.
Please join us as we work together for the benefit of the hospital and the community. Through your support of the Lights of Life Campaign and Gala we WILL reach our $300,000 goal. Call the Health Care Foundation office at 903-438-4799 for more information.
Bounds Retires As Army Ranger
After 20 years of service in the United States Army, preceded by a stint in the National Guard, James Clayton Bounds retired Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Bounds has served as an Army Ranger instructor Jumpmaster and is Pathfinder certified.
Center Picture is James Clayton Bounds.
Bounds grew up in Sulphur Springs and attended Sulphur Springs schools prior to joining the National Guard. He is the son of KSST’s Morning Show Host, Enola Gay.
Bounds retirement ceremony was conducted at Fort Benning, Georgia. He will return to Sulphur Springs as he begins his post-service years.
Winnsboro Police Department Report May 8-14, 2017
During the report period May 8-14, 2017, Winnsboro Police Department made one arrest, investigated one non-injury accident, responded to 125 calls, issued 25 citations and wrote 22 warnings.
On March 12th, David Martinez, 26, was arrested for Resist Arrest Search or Transport and Fail to Display Driver’s License when Requested.
An accident occurred in the 300 block of North Main Street May 13th. A sedan traveling northbound in the street was struck from behind by another sedan, also traveling northbound. No injuries were noted.\
SSISD Board Receives Training; Approve Personnel Changes
A special meeting of the Sulphur Springs ISD school board Monday, May 16, 2017, provided training for board members and began the process of making changes to several policies. Tammy Jordan, Policy Consultant with Texas Association of School Boards led the training and will implement the policy changes.
Many of the policy changes had been discussed and recommended by administrators during a policy review held earlier in the day.
The board also approved personnel changes.
PERSONNEL
Resignations
Stacy McMinn Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Angelica Hernandez Bilingual Aide Travis
Meredith McAllister English Teacher High School
Johnny McSheffrey Math Teacher/Coach High School
Kayla Steward Instructional Aide Austin Academic Center
New Personnel
Emily Simpson Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Amber Wilson Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Lindsay McCoy Grade 1 Teacher Bowie
Annabell Nance Title I Aide Bowie
Kevin Bailey SpEd Aide Connections
Personnel Change New Postion/Campus Former Position/Campus
Amy Jumper Academic Spec/High School Academic Spec/SS Elem
Adoption and Fostering Information Meeting
Last year over 16,000 children were removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Azleway Children’s Services is actively seeking families for children who are awaiting homes. Azleway Children’s Services is seeking to partner with families and individuals to support these children in crisis.
Those interested in foster care are invited to an Adoption and Fostering Information Meeting May 22nd at 5:30 p.m. at The Way Bible Church, 674 FM 2560, Sulphur Springs. Laci Livingston, Foster and Adoptive Home Developer with Child Protective Services and Magen Anderson, Azelway Recruiting Director will speak.
RSVP by email to [email protected]. Azleway is a faith based organization. 
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
