Meal A Day And Senior Citizen Center Calendar May 8-12th, 2023
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for the week of May 8-12, 2023 includes:
MONDAY, May 8 – Breaded Catfish Nuggets, Carrot Salad and Corn
TUESDAY, May 9 – Asian Drumsticks, Napa Cabbage and Rice
WEDNESDAY, May 10 – Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
THURSDAY, May 11 – Biscuits & Gravy and Roasted Veggies
FRIDAY, May 12 – Smothered Patties, Mashed Potatoes and Mixed Veggies
City Managers Report May 2nd 2023
SPRING CLEANUP – The annual spring cleanup has come to a close and has been a smashing success. The City offloaded over 1,000 vehicles, and sent 52 roll-offs to the landfill.
SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER – The foundation is currently under construction and concrete should be poured soon.
PACIFIC PARK – The new Pacific Park Sports Pavilion foundation is under construction. Concrete will be poured Wednesday. When the pavilion is complete, the old basketball courts will be demolished and the interior of the park will then be graded. Irrigation and sod will then be installed.
COLLEGE STREET – College Street is open down to Patton Street. Water and sewer construction is now complete to Ramsey Street. Water and sewer from Ramsey to Como is currently being installed. Ramsey Street is expected to be completed by the next city council meeting.
STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN – Following is a preliminary list of streets to be repaved in 2023. It is preliminary because there are no bids yet, hence no pricing. the list will be finalized once there are bids on May 18, 2023.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Reset school zone timers.
- Repaired AC units at City Hall.
- Installed cameras at Pacific Park.
- Tested tornado sirens… one needs repair.
- Replaced filter media on wastewater treatment plant filters.
- Performed preventative maintenance on the sludge press at the wastewater
treatment plant. - Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of 0.51 mg/L.
- Repaired 5 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 58 water meters.
- Hauled 735 tons of sludge to the landfill.
- Unstopped 20 sewer mains.
- Repaired 2 sewer mains.
- Flushed 40 dead end water mains.
- Treated 128 million gallons of potable water.
- Responded to 166 animal control calls while achieving a 74% adoption rate.
- Made 8 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 32 accidents, wrote 564 citations, made 54 arrests and recorded 47
offenses in the Patrol Division. - Checked out 2,689 items from the library plus 784 eBooks.
- Responded to 254 fire/rescue calls including 1 structure fire, 1 vehicle fire and 3
grass fires. - Cleaned and started the fountains at the Hopkins County Veterans’ Memorial.
- Ordered flowers for downtown.
- Assisted with 53 activities for seniors.
- Hosted 1 softball and 1 baseball tournament.
- Fertilized sports fields.
- Repaired 74 potholes.
- Conducted 12 building inspections, 6 electrical inspections, 7 plumbing
inspections, one mechanical inspection, issued 30 building permits and 26 trade
permits.
Evening Chapel Celebrates 150 Years with May 28, 2023 Homecoming
May 3, 2023 – Evening Chapel Church at 199 Putman St in Sulphur Springs will be celebrating 150 years of worship. Everyone is invited to attend the 2023 Homecoming on Sunday May 28, 2023 starting 3PM. Even if you have moved away, or joined another church, please join in on this Special Day. For more information please call, 903 513 9227.
Texas House Passes Legislation To Create Historic Texas Land And Water Conservation Fund
May 3, 2023- With an overwhelming vote of 131-13, the Texas House passed HB 3165 to create the Texas Land and Water Conservation Fund. The vote follows a 139-2 vote for HJR 138, which would put the fund on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment, allowing Texas voters to declare their support for conserving land and water for future generations. The legislation will now proceed to the Senate for a vote. District 2 Representative Bryan Slaton voted against the bill.
“The Texas House acted boldly to preserve what we love about Texas,” said Rep. Justin Holland who authored the bill. “This fund supports land and water conservation efforts for both public recreation and natural resource conservation that will allow Texas to thrive for generations to come. Because 95% of Texas is privately owned, it is vital we encourage private conservation along with the expansion of public parks, and this legislation achieves that goal.”
More than 240,000 acres of Texas land is lost to development each year. Texas needs additional parks, open spaces, and natural habitats to preserve our quality of life, provide food and fiber, clean water, and to support the multi-billion-dollar agricultural and outdoor recreation economy. According to a recent study by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, less than four percent of land in Texas is under some form of protection.
“Any meaningful impact on conservation will include close collaboration with private landowners,” said Lori Olson, the Executive Director of the Texas Land Trust Council. “By partnering with private landowners to steward their lands, we maintain our state’s strong commitment to private property rights, while mitigating the impacts overdevelopment has on our economy, water resources, natural environment, and wildlife. “
“There is a tremendous public benefit to private land conservation,” said Suzanne Scott, Texas State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “A 2019 report found more than $1 billion in annual benefits to Texas taxpayers from lands protected and conservation easements held by Texas land trusts. These trusts also strengthen rural economies generating an estimated $150 million annually in agriculture, timber, and ranching productivity and $11 million annually in hunting and wildlife leases.”
Recent polling shows that 83% of potential voters support ballot language for the Texas Land and Water Conservation Fund. Over 50 of the state’s leading land and water conservation, agricultural, wildlife, and sportsmen’s organizations have formed the Texas Land and Water Conservation Coalition to support this effort. These groups represent thousands of Texans from all walks of life, connected by a desire to protect Texas for future generations.
HB 3165 would provide grants for existing programs and projects that would preserve our water resources, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitats and provide additional outdoor recreational opportunities for all Texans. The bill provides base eligibility guidelines for projects and ensures that 50% of the funds go toward the conservation of agricultural lands, water resources, and wildlife habitat, and 50% of the funds go toward state and local parks, wildlife management areas, and other public access conservation projects.
HJR 138 would establish a dedicated fund for conservation. With an historic budget surplus, Texas legislators have a once in a generation opportunity to act now to constitutionally dedicate $2 billion to create this historic fund. HJR 138 would place the fund on the November ballot, allowing Texas voters to dedicate these funds to protect and preserve the Texas landscape.
Sulphur Springs City Council Denies Rezoning Ordinance
May 3, 2023- Sulphur Springs City Council voted on City Ordinance No. 2832 ZC# 230402 a rezoning request by Collyn Seth McDaniel. The rezoning request would change a portion of the property at 928 College and 934 College Street that abuts Putman Street containing approximately 1.74 acres from single family to multi-family.
Council member Tommy Harris spoke on his disapproval of the ordinance, stating that the intent of the developers is unknown with what they will be building. The council voted against approving the rezoning on the first hearing.
Dallas Resident Travels to Hopkins County Attempts Bank Fraud
April 3, 2023 – A Sulphur Springs Bank contacted SS Police after a man attempted to withdraw cash at one of their locations. The bank suspected the man’s identification card was fraudulent. When police arrived, JARVIS LAMONT SINGLETARY advised he had no idea why Police had been called. Police asked Singletary to be honest about the incident. He displayed signs of deception and was visibly nervous. Singletary, age 51, was Mirandized and led to a patrol car.
Singletary, who was advised of his rights, agreed to talk with officers. He told police that he and a group of individuals traveled together from Dallas to the bank with the hopes of obtaining money with the use of the fraudulent IDs. If he had been successful, he would have received a portion of the money. Singletary went on to detail the other actors and the vehicle they had arrived in. SS Police were unable to locate them.
When questioned about the wallet he carried, Singletary admitted the wallet was his, but the contents of the wallet did not belong to him. That wallet contained numerous ID and Credit cards that did not belong to Singletary.
A glass pipe, commonly used to smoke crack cocaine was also located on his person.
Singletary was arrested, transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident and charged with:
1 32.51(C)(3) FRAUD USE/POSS IDENTIFYING INFO # ITEMS 10<50
1 POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
Singletary, who lists himself as unemployed, is a registered sex offender. His online registration shows he was convicted of CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT IN THE THIRD DEGREE/FORCE OR COERCION in Minnesota in 2010.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs Retires American Flag With Help of Local Veterans
April 3, 2023 – CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs proudy flies an American Flag outside the main entrance to the Hospital. That flag had become a little worn and faded as of late.
Three Local Veterans performed a brief flag ceremony to remove the worn flag and install a new one this week. CHRISTUS Staff members took time off to step outside and observe.
Two of the veterans served in the US Air Force, the third served in the US Army.
With a final salute the new flag is set to greet everyone who visits CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs.
As with any American Flag, the retired flag was folded in the proper manor and given the respect it deserves. The retired American Flag will be destroyed in a dignified manner with the help of the Boy Scouts.
Jim Chapman Lake/Cooper Dam Stilling Basin/Outlet Area to Close Temporarily
May 3, 2023- U.S. Army Corp of Engineers officials with the Fort Worth District, announced today that starting May 8, the Stilling Basin/Outlet Area at Jim Chapman Lake will be closed temporarily for repaving of the parking lot.
For the safety of the public and work crews, the Stilling Basin/Outlet Area will be closed for approximately 30 to 45 days for fishing and all recreation activities. The lower road below the dam leading to the Stilling Basin/Outlet Area will also be closed and unavailable for public use. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all while we make the necessary repairs to the parking lot in a timely and safe manner,” said Maintenance Technician, Taylor Josey.
Questions may be addressed to the lake office at 828 CR 4795, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482 or by calling Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at 903-945-2108.
Fall Enrollment at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
FALL ENROLLMENT
Jermaine Cleveland of Sulphur Springs, right, discusses enrollment with PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Financial Advisor Elizabeth Joslin as he prepares to attend the Sulpur Springs campus this fall.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
A&M-Commerce to Hold Spring 2023 Commencement on May 12 and 13
COMMERCE, TX—A&M-Commerce will hold Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Candidates include 515 master’s students, 26 doctoral students and 722 undergraduate students. From these students, 370 will graduate with academic distinction, including 110 cum laude, 139 magna cum laude and 121 summa cum laude.
All ceremonies will be conducted in the University Field House at 1804 Lee Street, Commerce, Texas. Doors will open to guests one hour before the start of each ceremony.
Guests who do not have a ticket may view the live ceremony virtually at the Rayburn Student Center in the second-floor conference rooms or via the live links posted below.
Graduation Schedule
Graduate School Ceremony
Doctoral and Master’s Ceremony
Location: A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse
Date: Friday, May 12, 2023
Time: 4 p.m.
Watch Live: https://youtube.com/live/mot1MkANa48?feature=share
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Undergraduate Ceremonies
College of Business
College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts
Location: A&M-Commerce Field House
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Watch Live: https://youtube.com/live/Nrkvh-FP8B4?feature=share
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College of Innovation and Design
College of Science and Engineering
Location: A&M-Commerce Field House
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Watch Live: https://youtube.com/live/QWTslhJGXmw?feature=share
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College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
College of Education and Human Services
Location: A&M-Commerce Field House
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2023
Time: 2 p.m.
Watch Live: https://youtube.com/live/FjWhiMyIqN8?feature=share
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Find more details and information on the graduation page at www.tamuc.edu/Graduation.
