District Golf: Wildcats in Second; Lady Cats Fourth After First Day
The Wildcats’ golf team shot a solid round of 302 Monday on the first day of the district golf tournament at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club to put themselves in strong contention to qualify for the regional tournament. The Wildcats are in second place, just 4 strokes behind district leader Hallsville. Texas High is in third place with 318, sixteen strokes behind the Wildcats. Pine Tree is fourth with 326 and Greenville is fifth at 327. The top two district teams qualify for the regional tournament. The Wildcats were led by Alex Motes and Matt Calhoun who both shot 74. Caleb Lewis fired a 75. Andrew Escobar shot 79. Other Wildcats scores included Cameron Morris 81, Carter Lewis 87 and Colten Bench 90.
The Lady Cats’ golf team is in fourth place in the district golf tournament after shooting 455 Monday in round one Monday. The Lady Cats were led by Alissa Sotelo who shot 99. Morgan Landers shot 104. Alyssa Underwood had 120 and Emma Lane shot 132. Round two is taking place Tuesday.
KSST Donates Texas Rangers’ Tickets to Douglas Intermediate Students
Teacher Kristin Potts, Station Owner Chad Young, Principal Holly Folmar
KSST Radio in Sulphur Springs, TX donated tickets to nine Texas Rangers‘ home games. Douglas Intermediate School will use the tickets to encourage student perfect attendance. As part of the Campus Improvement Program, Principal Holly Folmar hopes each student will attend each day and each hour of the day. “We keep track of each student, and each and every hour they attend our school.” said Folmar. A student that comes to school, then leaves even 30 minutes early, will not have perfect attendance.
KSST donated enough tickets for each of the 17 classes to give one student four tickets in each class. Station owner Chad Young said, “We wanted to give enough tickets in each class so that the student could take friends and family to the game as well.”
Winnsboro Police Report March 27-April 2, 2017
Winnsboro Police made three arrests investigated one non-injury accident, responded to 162 calls for service, and issued 49 citations and 37 warnings during the report period March 27-April 2, 2017.
Matthew Monday, 36, of Winnsboro was arrested March 28th on a City of Galveston warrant.
Johnny Tudor, 22, of Winnsboro, was arrested March 31st for DWI.
Christopher Stone, 34, of Commerce was arrested April 2nd for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
A two vehicle accident in the 200 block of West Coke Road was investigated.
PJC Graduation Rates Much Higher Than Peers
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents received good news about PJC’s continued value in comparison to 22 other medium-sized Texas colleges. The report shows that the graduation rate at PJC is much higher than the average, validating the college’s years of work to improve student success and completion.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) also showed PJC again outperforms peer colleges in cost of attendance and graduation and transfer rates. Cost of attending PJC for an academic year, including tuition and fees, is $1,548 compared to the average of $2,221.
Reflecting regional demographics, more PJC students (86 percent) are on some form of financial aid compared to the average of 68 percent, and more use PELL grants (69 percent) compared to the average of 47 percent.
PJC also demonstrates greater efficiency, with less spent on full time employees in core expense categories than peers in instruction ($3,785 to $5,155), academic support ($535 to $931) and institutional support ($1,084 to $1,959).
In other business, the Regents:
- Approved an annexation order temporarily assigning four regents to represent Lamar County precincts not yet included in an election. Assigned were Jim Bell to Precinct 1; Berdie Gibson to Precinct 2; Dr. Cliff Wilkerson to Precinct 3; and Charles Lynch to Precinct 4. The assignments will be in place until redistricting and elections to be held in either May or November 2018.
- Approved local charitable giving through the United Way by opting out of the State Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign, meaning that donations collected locally will remain local.
- Extended the depository contract with Guaranty Bank for an additional two years, per a state law requirement for bidding in odd-numbered years, but also providing the option to extend the contract if all conditions remain the same, which was the case here.
- Approved course fee changes for Summer 2016.
- Approved course fee changes for Fall 2017.
- Approved workforce dual credit course supply fees.
- Approved modification of DEC (Local) Leaves and Absences and DED (Local) Vacations and Holidays. As PJC moves to the new Jenzabar ERP system, the old system of days will be exchanged for a system of hours to accrue various types of leave. The amounts remain unchanged, only the methods of recording have changed.
- Received a report on the PJC 2015-2016 Cost Analysis by Program.
- Learned that the PJC Memorial Foundation Scholarship Allocation for 2017-2018 will be $1 million.
- Accepted 2017-18 faculty contracts, the reassignment of Stephanie Parker as Director of Nursing, effective Feb. 13, and the retirement of Electronics Instructor Rickey McFadden effective May 12.
Work Zone Fatalities Increase in Texas
AUSTIN – Work zone fatalities in Texas last year increased 27 percent, resulting in 181 lost lives. Of those fatalities, 174 (96 percent) were motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
“People often think work zone crashes result in the deaths of roadside workers, but statistics show the vast majority of these fatalities are drivers like you and me who are passing through as motorists,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We urge you to pay attention and adhere to posted traffic signs when driving through work zones to ensure your safety and the safety of the men and women who are working on our roads. At the end of the day, we want everyone to return home safely to their loved ones.”
In recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 3-7, TxDOT reminds drivers that every single day requires caution when driving through work zones. As the state’s population continues to boom, the price of progress can mean more than 2,500 active TxDOT work zones at any given time. The leading causes of fatal work zone crashes statewide – speeding and failure to stay in a single lane – are entirely preventable.
By law, drivers are required to move over or slow down when approaching work crews, emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the roadside or shoulder with flashing blue or amber lights. Traffic fines in work zones double when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000.
As part of its ongoing Work Zone Awareness campaign, TxDOT is partnering with Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company to host events around the state. An integral part of Texas Mutual’s mission – helping employers prevent workplace incidents and minimizing their consequences – aligns with TxDOT’s Work Zone Awareness efforts.
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City Receives Gift of 4,900 Acres; Luminant Coal Mine To Become City Property
The City of Sulphur Springs will begin planning the use of a 4,900 acre gift and public input will be invited. Luminant will give the coal mine located southeast of the city to become city property. The idea for the gift was birthed when the late Roy Pelton wanted to a championship dog trials event held locally but there was not enough land area available. Pelton and the city contacted Troy Sellers with Luminant but he stated the trials could not use the property because the mining operation did not allow firearms on their property. That’s when the request was made to give the land to the city when the mine closed.
According to Marc Maxwell, City Manager, an email from Luminant about three months ago questioned if the city remained interested in the property. A conversation by city council last week in a special meeting confirmed the cities interest. Maxwell stated that there remains only a small area of the land that is yet to be reclaimed by the mine. He stated that the mountain would remain with some terracing and other work performed. He said the city would be involved in the reclamation work that will conclude the required process.
Maxwell said the city will use much of the land for various events. Maxwell pointed out that there are a number of questions yet to be answered regarding the use of the land. About 300 acres are suitable for structures. A railroad spur into the property can also be an asset to industrial development. Several roadways run through the property as well. Maxwell said those roads are in decent condition and will be a part of the planning for utilization of the acreage. The overpass on FM 1870 will remain giving worry free access to property on both sides of the Farm to Market road. There are also 19-20 lakes on the property. Among the events, he noted that mud runs are popular and are often two-day or more events. Dog field trials could also be a part of the event plan.
Maxwell expects public input into the usage of the property. With the new comprehensive planning set to begin in May of this year, he said that property will also be in the discussion for the city’s future.
With the gift, 4,900 acres will be removed from the tax revenue for the county and school district. Maxwell pointed out the land was already being place into the agricultural use category. That would generate only a small amount of tax revenue. Instead, with improvements to be made on the property and other opportunities offered by the property there would be a great revenue generated for those entities.
PCP Blackout Causes Accident; Leads to Arrest
Keri Amanda Crump, 28
Keri Amanda Crump, 28, of Sulphur Springs was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle that had been involved in a single vehicle crash that occurred on I-30 eastbound at the 111-mile marker. Crump admitted to deputies at the scene she had smoked PCP just prior to the crash.
When arrested by DPS on Airport Road Sunday around 6 p.m., she also admitted to the trooper that she was under the influence of PCP. She also admitted backing out while driving after smoking the PCP. In a search of the vehicle, three cigar type cigarettes were found. They appeared to be moist which was consistent with being dipped in liquid PCP, according to the arresting officer. A small vial of suspected PCP was found secreted in a cigarette package. She was taken to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and then to Hopkins County Jail.
She is in Hopkins County Jail charged with a state jail felony—Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram.
Cumby Police Arrest Greenville Woman on Drug Charges
Saturday afternoon at 2:03 p.m. Cumby Police spotted a suspicious passenger car parked at the South Service Road of I-30 in an area generally used for truck parking. Inside the vehicle were two females. Deborah Lynn Miller, 44, of Greenville appeared to be under the influence of a possible illegal drug when the officer began his conversation with the pair.
With consent to search, Miller stated that she carried marijuana in her backpack. A search of the backpack revealed multiple bags of marijuana, a bag of methamphetamine, multiple pipes, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. Miller was arrested at the scene but became combative when the officer tried to place her in the patrol car. She slammed her head into the window and into the wall that separates the backseat from the officer.
Miller is in Hopkins County Jail charged with a state jail felony for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram and for possession of marijuana under 2 oz.
Bright Star Baseball Opens Monday Night
Monday, April 3rd is Bright Star Baseball opening night. Game starts at 6pm at Buford Park T-Ball fields. The public is invited to attend the game and cheer on all of our Bright Stars.
Bright Star Baseball is for special needs athletes assisted in the game by buddies.
All players must report at 5pm for spring pictures.
