Grant Will Fund A & M-Commerce Ag Department Project to Develop Renewable Energy in Northeast Texas
By Mary Grace Rodriguez
Assistant Professor in the School of Agriculture, Dr. Doug LaVergne has received a $30,764 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for a project slated to “Develop a Renewable Energy Technical Assistance Program for Northeast Texas Small Businesses and Agricultural Producers.”
The program will support the mission of Texas A&M University-Commerce by developing a bridge to connect and educate small business owners and agricultural producers throughout Northeast Texas about the production and usage of biodiesel fuel for improving their energy efficiency and profitability. The program will also assist patrons with processing equipment and applying for renewable energy system grants.
“Northeast Texas is an ideal location to develop and research these renewable energy platforms,” said Dr. LaVergne.
Although the primary goal of this grant is to introduce and educate the local population about the process of biodiesel production, it also serves as a capacity building block aimed to create a renewable energy program where other energy systems (for instance, wind and solar power) can be studied within the School of Agriculture.
Interested patrons can participate in a five-hour workshop that will discuss the three phases of biodiesel production and learn about governmental grants aimed at supporting these small-scale sustainable systems. In addition, support will be provided to assist participants in establishing biodiesel production systems at their own farms and/or businesses.
If you know of any farmers, ranchers or business owners who may be interested, please encourage them to participate. There will be three one-day workshops on how to make biodiesel fuel from used vegetable oil.
Workshop dates include Friday, July 22; Saturday, Aug. 6; and Friday, Aug. 29, at the Charles J. Austin Industrial Engineering & Technology/Agricultural Sciences Building (AGIT), room 149. The workshop is $10 and limited to 15 participants per session. For more information or to register, please contact Dr. LaVergne at (903) 886-5353 or by email at [email protected].
Friday Night Movie!
June 12, 2016 – This week’s Friday Night movie is Star Wars- The Force Awakens!
The movie is about thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey, a tough scavenger whose droid contains a top-secret map. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo to make sure the Resistance receives the intelligence concerning the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi Knights.
Star Wars- The Force Awakens is a fantasy and science fiction film. And is a great movie for people of all ages. Everyone come down to Celebration Plaza Friday the 15th to watch Star Wars!
SSISD Board Awards Maintenance Tax Notes Bid; Personnel Changes in District
SSISD
Sulphur Springs School Board awarded Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. the bid and authorized the issuance of maintenance tax notes; levying an annual ad valorem tax and provided for the security of the payment of those notes Monday night during their regular July session. They also authorized the sale of the notes at 2.22% interest.
Bids were received as of 11 a.m. Monday and interest rates were at an all-time low for the maintenance tax notes thanks to Brexit, the move of Britain out of the European Market. The notes are a fixed rate bond unless refinanced. The notes are for a 20 year term and the first payment of $470,190 is due next year. The maintenance tax notes had been projected to carry a 4% projected interest rate. Board members were delighted with the savings due to a lower rate.
In other action, the boar d made request to the Texas Education Agency to modify the Sulphur Springs ISD compressed tax rate for the 2016-17 school year. This will amount to a gain of $322,000 in state funding this year. According to Sherry McGraw, financial director, this is the last year the board will have to make a request. Beginning next year, the additional funds will be automatically added to state funding to the local district. The additional funds requested stem from changes in the funding formula which were initiated by the state in 2006.
The board also renewed the district property and casualty insurance through TAPS for the next fiscal year. Offenhauser Insurance of Texarkana is the agent. An update was made to local board policies that only changed wording needed to confirm to state requirements.
In a work session, McGraw presented board members with summaries of the updated 20016-17 draft budget. The budget will be presented for approval in the August 8th regular meeting. The budget has an estimated revenue of $34.3 million and expenditures of $32.5 million for the general operating fund. Overall the draft budget calls for $42.1 million in revenue and $42 million in expenditures.
PERSONNEL
Resignations
Johnnie Freeman Ed. Diagnostician Special Services
Nickole Brown Library Aide Bowie
Jody Leeds RTI/Testing Facilitator SS Elementary
Stephanie Garner SpEd Teacher Middle School
Alanta Knox Science Teacher High School
Ruston Pennington Math Teacher High School
New Personnel
Maria Garcia-Hidalgo Child Nutrition Admin Asst Admin Bldg
Whitney McCoy Curriculum Secretary Admin Bldg
Saundra Lewis V.I./Transition Aide Special Services
Cassie Fleming Grade 2 Teacher Bowie
Krista Hallmark SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Rhonda Orren RTI/Testing Facilitator SS Elementary
Reta Linette Banks SpEd Teacher High School
Shane McQueen Geography Teacher/Coach High School
Personnel Changes New position/campus Former position/campus
Brandi Boles Ed. Diagnostician/Special Sevices Resource Teacher/Lamar
Lowest Cruise Prices For End of Summer
Why not send the kids back to school and take a cruise?? The lowest prices of the summer are at the end of August for the Liberty of the Seas that sails out of Galveston. The 7-day cruise sets sail on August 28th and visits Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Roatan, Honduras. An Inside Cabin right now is less than $400 per person, based on double occupancy. With port taxes, and fees, the TOTAL amount for two people is less than $1000.
Other cabins are available,
Start by using the following link to see categories and staterooms. Then email at k[email protected] for best pricing.
August 28th Liberty of the Seas Cruise
TRAX Transportation Planning Meeting
On Monday, July 11th, at 1 p.m. there was an informational meeting at Sulphur Springs Senior Center regarding the TRAX transportation services. “TRAX Rural Public Transit District is updating the five year Regional Coordinated Transportation Plan.” Katina Johnson, council member for the ARK-TEX Council of Governments came from Texarkana to listen and educate the community about the TRAX services. The meeting was offered to inform the public about the transportation available in the area, give information on how it’s going so far, and gain more ideas on places of improvement. TRAX buses are a public transportation services offered in the community of Sulphur Springs.
The ARK-TEX Council of Governments are in charge of this program, and have recently applied for grants and more funding to better the TRAX services. The transportation service is a government program that offers rides to doctor’s appointments, work, beauticians, shopping centers and many other places. If a customer is 60+ years old they may ride the TRAX bus for free, however if they are under 60, there is a 10 cents a mile or $1 per stop charge. Car rides are offered from 8:00 am-3:30 pm, and require 48 hours notice, but will pick you up from your home. They also have fixed routes in town and are working to create out of town routes.
If you would like more information or to schedule a TRAX ride visit their website or give them a call during their office hours of 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
903-885-2769-local office
903-739-2444-main office
866-575-9024-main office
Boy’s Basketball Camp at SSHS Gym
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta says he enjoys helping youngsters develop their basketball skills. He opened his four-day boys basketball camp in Wildcats Gym Monday. Coach Cipoletta had about 45 boys entering kindergarten through the fifth grades in a morning session. Camp for those entering sixth through the eighth grades and entering ninth grade are taking place in the afternoon this week.
Coach Cipoletta says the younger boys are learning the basics of ball handling, passing and shooting. He adds there is also an emphasis on games and fun. Coach Cipoletta says the older boys will have the opportunity to build their skills in longer sessions. He is being aided at the camp by his Varsity Assistant Coach Philip Manning and Middle School Coach Tony Henry. Coach Cipoletta says camp week is one of his favorite times of the year.
Couple Injured in Jet Ski Explosion
A man and his wife were injured this weekend when a jet ski exploded at Cooper Lake. The couple was riding on an older model jet ski when the motor died. The husband entered the water to swim to shore but found it too far and returned to the jet ski to attempt to start it again. The blast sent the woman 30 feet into the air. Both sustained burns in the injury.
Cooper Lake State Park
Noise Disturbance Leads to Felony Charge for Evading Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call noise disturbance at the sandpits on CR2302 Sunday. There they found three (3) vehicles that fled the scene. The officer gave chase on one vehicle that fled east on CR 2302 and then south on FM 2560. The chase went for three (3) miles.
The vehicle chased finally stopped at the corner of CR 2322 and FM2560. The driver stated that the two (2) passengers in the car encouraged him to evade arrest. The passengers were found to be intoxicated.
Ricardo Salazar, 21, of Sulphur Springs is in Hopkins County Jail for Evading Arrest, Search, Transport with a motor vehicle. The Felony 3 earned him a $10,000 bond.
Chicago Travel Deals from under $100
American Airlines is having a very brief sale on flights to Chicago from Dallas. I found round trips for under $100.!! If you have never been to Chicago, this is an excellent way to experience a wonderful city. Although the number of seats is limited, if you can travel on a Saturday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday (either way) you can find the lowest fares. Also, if you combine these low fares with a hotel package through the KSST travel website you can realize even more savings. Use the following link to try to find the best dates that work for you.
Here is one example of the flight deal: I searched October 12-October 15th and found a 86.20 total Round Trip on American (non-stop). Let me know the best deals you find, as they will disappear quickly.
Email me at: [email protected]
