Texas A & M-Commerce Biology Professors Receive Funds For BioPride-JAMP Orientation for Freshmen Pre-med Students
COMMERCE, TX—Two Department of Biology professors, Dr. Venu Cheriyath, director of the BioPride program and Dr. John P. Slovak, director of the Texas A&M University-Commerce JAMP program, have been awarded a supplemental fund from Texas Joint Medical Admission Program to offer the BioPride-JAMP Orientation program to 25 JAMP eligible pre-med freshmen students.
The first BioPride was held in 2014 with eight students and was expanded to 23 students in 2016. In a four-day intensive orientation, the BioPride-JAMP program focuses on the development of essential study and learning skills, as well as time management strategies necessary to succeed in freshman science courses.
BioPride-JAMP participants are also exposed to various success programs offered on campus. The unique format of BioPride-JAMP offers an opportunity for incoming freshmen to get to know their professors and fellow students before attending their first classes, which helps to facilitate the formation of a learning community with a clear understanding of what it takes to succeed in college.
“We are very pleased and thankful to Joint Medical Admission Program for awarding this grant,” said Dr. Cheriyath. “Considering BioPride is self-funded through registration fees and alumni donations, this fund will allow us to offer the BioPride program to at least 25 JAMP eligible students at a subsidized rate.”
“BioPride-JAMP participants are expected to perform better in their college classes, especially in introductory biology classes, “said Dr. Slovak. “This will enable them to complete JAMP course requirements and positively impact this program at A&M-Commerce.”
JAMP is a partnership among all eight Texas medical schools and 65 public and private four-year universities. Selection into JAMP not only provides support for students throughout their undergraduate schooling, but also guarantees admission into a Texas medical school as long as all requirements are met upon graduation.
“Prior years’ results show that BioPride participants have a retention rate of over 90 percent and higher GPAs compared to their peers,” said Dr. Cheriyath. “I hope to increase BioPride-JAMP enrollment this year to 40 students.”
Registration will begin the first week of April. For more information, visit BioPride Boot Camp.
Game Day: Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Baseball, and Softball
The Wildcats’ basketball team will honor it’s seniors before a district game against Greenville Friday night in Wildcats Gym. Their seniors are Dane Rutherford and Ke”Ontae Dunn. The Wildcats enter the game with an 8-2 district record. They will end up with a second place district finish regardless of how their final two district games turn out. Greenville is 0-10 in district play and 6-21 for the season. The Wildcats will wrap up district play next Tuesday at Hallsville. Friday night there will be a Wildcats freshman game against Greenville at 5 p.m. A JV contest will get underway at around 6:15 p.m. The Wildcats varsity game versus the Lions should take place at around 7:30 p.m. We will bring you the Wildcats and Greenville varsity game at around 7:30 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
Besides Wildcats Basketball in Wildcats Gym, there are lots of other local sports contests on this Friday Game Day.
The Wildcats’ soccer team will host Mt. Pleasant at the SSHS Track Complex field. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with a varsity game at 7 p.m. The varsity Wildcats have a win, a loss and a shootout loss in district play. They won their last game one week ago 6-0 over Texas High. The Wildcats are 8-2-2 for the season.
The Lady Cats’ soccer team is at Mt. Pleasant Friday night. There will be a JV game at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity to follow at around 7:15 p.m. The Lady Cats are 2-1 in district play. They lost at home to Texas High last Friday, 2-1. The Lady Cats are 7-4-2 overall.
The Wildcats’ tennis team is at a Kilgore tournament this Friday. It got underway at 8 a.m. The Wildcats have played a dual meet at Sherman and one earlier tournament at Hallsville on January 27.
The Wildcats’ baseball team will have their second scrimmage of the season Friday night at Terrell at 6 p.m. The Wildcats JV Gold Team will scrimmage at 4 p.m. at Terrell.
Finally the Lady Cats’ softball team will scrimmage North Lamar at Lady Cat Park Friday. The JV scrimmage will get underway at around 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow at around 7 p.m. This is the fourth and final scrimmage for the Lady Cats varsity who open the regular season next Thursday in the three-day Sulphur Springs Varsity Softball Tournament.
Regional Solo and Ensemble Honors For 25 SSHS Band Members
Sulphur Springs High School Band Director Charles McCauley reports that 25 band members earned First Division Ratings last Friday at a regional solo and ensemble contest at Texas A&M-Commerce. Nineteen students earned their First Division on a Class 1 solo, the most difficult level. They are Sarah Anderson, Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, Carrissa Carter, Kate Flores, Jaci Glenn, Maddy Ray, Brayden Fisher, Owen Lee, Seth Womack, Riley Farley, Nathan Braddy, Christian Corona, Payton Baugh, Emily Johnson, Zach Phillips, Lucia Yanez, Mason Gillem, Blaine Mitchell and Sam Robinson.
Earning First Division on Class 2 solos were Elizabeth Lopez, Alondra Santillan, Alice Lopez, Kassidi Hill, Adam Ost and Andrew Westlund.
Eight students also made First Division on ensembles. They are the clarinet trio of Kate Flores, Elizabeth Vega and Alondra Santillan and the brass quintet of Christian Corona, Christian Diaz-DeLeon, Zach Phillips, Nathan Braddy and Isaac Lamb.
Eleven students qualified for the the state solo and ensemble contest in May. They are soloists Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, Carissa Carter, Blaine Mitchell and Sam Robinson and ensemble members Christian Corona, Christian Diaz-DeLeon, Zach Phillips, Isaac Lamb, Nathan Braddy, Kate Flores, Elizabeth Vega and Alondra Santillan.
On Their Way to Child Custody Court with 65-g of Meth in Vehicle Trunk
Traffic at Celebration Plaza was backed up Friday morning as Hopkins County Investigators and Deputies initiated a traffic stop in front of Alliance Bank between City National Bank and the County Courthouse. The traffic stop and court activities in the courthouse created a more than usual traffic flow prior to 9 a.m. The two lanes of traffic were closed and traffic was diverted to alternate routes as city crews assisted in directing traffic. In the traffic stop, a male and female were handcuffed and were being interviewed separately during the stop.
Investigator Wade Sheets initiated the traffic stop and soon called for additional backup as he observed classic signs of criminal activity in the actions of the two occupants in vehicle. Sheets and others observed contraband in plain sight in the vehicle. A search of vehicle produced an amount of marijuana, digital scales, and 65-grams of methamphetamine in a safe in the trunk of the vehicle.
Sarah Moses and John Hearn, Jr. were arrested at the scene and transported to Hopkins County jail. Moses and Hearn are in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 200-grams.
Moses and Hearn were on their way to child custody court at the time of their arrest.
SKYWARN Training Boosts Storm Spotting Skills
A small number of area citizens participated in the National Weather Service SKYWARN training at Sulphur Springs City Hall Council chambers Thursday night. Mark Fox, Meteorologist with the NWS presented various photos and videos that depicted various types of cloud formations and severity of storms.
Fox stated that without instruments most people misjudge the speed of wind. He stated there are various ways to judge wind speed without instruments. When whole trees are in motion and there is some resistance to walking, wind speeds are 32-38 miles per hour. If twigs and branches with a diameter of 1-inch to 3-inchs are broken off trees the wind speed is 39-46 mph. Wind speeds of 47-54 mph will blow off chimney covers and roof tiles and a lot of twigs and small branches will be on the ground. Roof damage begins to occur and small trees are blown over or uprooted when winds reach 55 to 63 mph. Widespread damage occurs and large trees are uprooted or blown over with 64-75 mph winds. Severe and extensive damage occurs when wind speeds are 75-112 mph. At that wind speed, RV’s and small mobile homes overturn, moving cars are pushed off the road, and windows are broken.
He stated that the largest hail stones in Texas have been around 6 inches in diameter. He urges those who are curious to wait until the hail stops before seeking to measure hail stones. No matter the size, he stated the speed of the stone falling was the concern. He said a quarter sized hail stone was like being hit by a Yu Darvish pitch.
Fox also presented examples of various cloud formations and tested those attending regarding their ability to recognize the formations and the strength of the storm based on the formation.
As tornadoes develop, wind blows toward the wall cloud. Fox pointed out that if you feel the wind at your back while observing the storm cloud the potential for a possible tornado and it moving toward you is great. He taught those attending how to know the direction of a storm cloud by observing its formation. He also warned to wait at least 30-minutes before going outside following the last lightning strike. He said lightning has been known to strike 30-miles from a thunderstorm.
Those in the audience received a basic storm watcher certificate.
Major Pasture Fire Thursday Motivates Call for Caution Due to Wildfire Conditions
Hopkins County Fire Station #20, and Volunteer Fire Departments from Dike, Saltillo, Brinker, and Pickton-Pine Forest responded to a fire in a heavily wooded and pasture land off County Road 2336 Thursday night around 7 p.m. The Forest Service was dispatched but those responding were able to control the fire and called off the Forest Service. The smell of smoke permeated the air for miles around.
According to County Fire Chief Andy Endsley, the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. However, he does advise that if county residents do desire to burn anything, they use extreme caution. The risk of wildfire is high at this time due to dry conditions and high winds.
Downtown Traffic Slowed by Traffic Stop
Traffic at Celebration Plaza was backed up Friday morning as Hopkins County Investigators and Deputies initiated a traffic stop in front of Alliance Bank between City National Bank and the County Courthouse. The traffic stop and docket call for District Court and other court activities in the courthouse created a more than usual traffic flow prior to 9 a.m. The two lanes of traffic were closed and traffic was diverted to alternate routes as city crews assisted in directing traffic.
In the traffic stop, a male and female were handcuffed and were being interviewed separately during the stop. More information will follow, but preliminary reports say the two were arrested.
Morning Chapel Baptist Church – Soul Food Cafe
Morning Chapel Baptist Church – Soul Food Cafe
Back by popular demand, the Soul Food Cafe is back. Proceeds benefit the upcoming Youth Ministry Trip.
Westbound I-30 Traffic Backed up 4 miles at Highway 50
February 10, 2017 – Traffic is backed up for 4 miles on Westbound I-30 between Sulphur Springs and Greenville. Officials are directing traffic to Highway 50 as HAZMAT assists with the clean up of the accident that resulted in a scrap metal truck roll over at the 101 mile marker.
KSST thanks Leslie for the report and photos.
