PJC to Participate in AACC Pathways Project
Implementing guided academic and career pathways at scale – for all students – is the shared commitment of 30 colleges that will participate in the Pathways Project led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Paris Junior College is among the institutions invited, through a highly competitive national selection process, to join in and contribute to the work.
“This is a huge opportunity for Paris Junior College to be involved in this transformational work to implement academic and career pathways to improve 
student completion rates and prepare students for academic transfer or to go to work in order to meet the ambitious statewide goal of Texas to have 60 percent of individuals 25 to 34 years of age with a certificate or degree by 2030,” said Paris Junior College president Dr. Pamela Anglin.
AACC is coordinating a national partnership to build capacity for community colleges to implement a pathways approach to student success and college completion. Partners include Achieving the Dream, Inc., the Aspen Institute, the Center for Community College Student Engagement, the Community College Research Center, Jobs for the Future, the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement, and Public Agenda. Partners have participated actively in the college selection process and also are substantively involved in designing a model series of six two-day pathways institutes, each focusing on key elements in a fully scaled pathway model for community colleges. The project is funded through a $5.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The selected colleges will be the first to participate in the pathways institute series over the next 2.5 years and will work with expert coaches at those institutes. In addition, the participating colleges themselves will contribute to learning both across the initiative and more broadly, across the community college field.
“These very diverse community colleges can feel proud of the strong foundations they have laid for this transformational work,” said AACC president Walter G. Bumphus. “We are pleased with the rigor and integrity that the Pathways partners have ensured in the selection process, and all of the partners look forward to the intensive work ahead.”
The Pathways colleges are in urban, suburban, and rural locations in 17 states, with fall headcount enrollments ranging from less than 3000 to almost 60,000 students.
Sulphur Springs City Council Agenda for November
Sulphur Springs City Council meets in regular session Tuesday November 3, 2015 at 7 p.m. The regular meeting will be held in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street. The following items will be discussed:
Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
Presentations, proclamations, and announcements.
Manager’s report will include status report of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims for the month, and a review of expenditures and revenues.
- Discussion/action on Consent Agenda.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2673, a request by Shawn Carpenter to rezone property located at 607 Texas Street, being further described at Lots 14 & 14C of Block 30 3, from Single Family (SF) to Multi-Family (MF).
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2674, a request by Le Gia Van and Phuong Thi Pham to rezone property located at 1229 Texas Street, being further described as Lot 8 of Block 200 3 7, from Light Commercial (LC) Multi-Family (MF).
- Discussion/action on Public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2675, a request by the City of Sulphur Springs to abandon and vacate that portion of Plano Street that lies between Brinker and Georgia Streets.
- Discussion/action on the Hopkins County Appraisal District’s 2016 Budget.
- Discussion/action on the first reading of Ordinance No. 2576, an ordinance authorizing the exchange of certain real property between the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport and the adjacent property owner(s).
- Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for vehicle exhaust removal systems for Fire Stations.
- Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for concrete for Rockdale Road.
- Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for labor for Rockdale Road.
- Discussion/action on request by owner Tim Merrell to plat property located at 1017 Gilmer Street, being further described as Lot 19A of Block 36 2.
- Discussion/action on consideration of adoption of Resolution No. 1093 authorizing application for financial assistance from the Texas Water Development Board; designating certain consultants; and making certain findings in connection therewith.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1094 approving a second amendment to the Tax Abatement with BEF Foods, Inc. and authorizing the City Manager to enter into the amendment to the Tax Abatement on behalf of the city.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1095 for appointment to the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
- Visitors/public forum.
18. Adjourn.
MV Lady Tigers Prepare for Bi-District
Team photo provided by MVISD Coach Thomas
Mount Vernon Lady Tigers Volleyball team finished District 16-3A with an 11-1 record and move into the first round of the play-offs. The Lady Tigers lost their first district match-up to Queen City, Tuesday, October 27 in three straight sets 15-25, 9-25, and 32-34. The loss placed them in a tie for first place in the district with Queen City. The team boosts a 25-5 overall record for the season. Bi-district games will be played November 2 and November 3. Area games will follow on November 5-7, 2015.
Bond Reduced for Mapps
Friday morning, 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt reduced bond for Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps, 21, from $1.5 million to $1 million for the charge of murder and reduced the total of $40,000 for two counts of tampering with evidence to $20,000. The bond reduction hearing was the next step Mapps trail through the court system until his trial for murder and tampering with evidence.
Mapps was arraigned before Judge Northcutt on Monday, October 26, 2015 for the murder of Jonathan Trahern Young at Pacific Park on June 8th of this year. Mapps is being held in Hopkins County Jail.
He was indicted for the charges by a Hopkins County Grand Jury on Wednesday afternoon, September 23 2015.
Mapps became a suspect in the murder after local law enforcement questioned several witnesses at the park. Police obtained a warrant for Mapps arrest the day of the shooting. At that time, Mapps, who was known to live in Greenville, was considered armed and dangerous and area citizens were asked to report his whereabouts to local law enforcement.
Mapps allegedly shot Young multiple times and disposed of the fire arm after he admitted to throwing the weapon into an unspecified body of water. SSPD Criminal Investigator David Gilmore had said at the time that one of the key pieces of evidence in a homicide is the murder weapon. Gilmore said Mapps was very vague regarding what body of water the weapon was thrown. Tampering with evidence is a felony 3 carrying 2-10 years in a state penitentiary.
Mapps proved to be elusive. On June 11th, KSST News reported that Texas Ranger John Vance, the U. S. Marshal’s office, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety were assisting in the search. They felt hampered in the search because, as they stated, the family members and associates of Mapps are not law abiding citizens and were assisting Mapps in eluding law officers. Mapps was arrested in Fort Smith Arkansas on Monday June 29.
Mapps, along with his girlfriend, Tressa Macon, were located by the Marshal’s office. Marshalls along with Ranger Vance, Sgt. Gilmore, and the Fort Smith Police made the arrest at an apartment complex where the pair and others were staying. Mapps was being assisted in his attempt to evade arrest by several individuals, according to Gilmore. A decoy car was used in an attempt to draw law officers away from the scene. After the first vehicle had left with two police cars giving chase, a second vehicle was used in which Mapps laid down in the back seat and, in an attempt to hide from view, pulled a pink swimming pool floaty over him. Gilmore said that the Marshal Service and the Fort Smith police worked together with a part of the force apprehending the first vehicle while the remainder of the force continued to watch the apartment. That group of officers was able to apprehend the second vehicle as Marshals converged on the vehicle as it was pulling away from the curb. Gilmore stated that even though the law officers had not worked together before, they were able to orchestrate the arrest as though they had worked on other arrests.
SSHS Athletic Director Warns Merchants Regarding Advertising Requests
A group is selling ads to local businesses that will in no way benefit the Sulphur Springs High School baseball program as they claim, according to SSHS Athletic Director Greg Owens. Owens states the group, Elite, is using crafty language when calling to request merchants to purchase an ad “to support our kids.” This is just one type of offers made to merchants that will not benefit the local school’s athletic program.
“In our athletic programs we ask for your support through poster ads, signs, advertisements on our pregame PA announcements, camp shirts, and wildcat card discounts. When we ask for your support, it should come from a coach or a parent of one of our athletes,” stated Owens.
Owens says local merchants are free to purchase one of Elite’s ads and the merchant will probably get a poster. However, according to Owens, “I need to inform you that none of your support is seen by the athletic department or the group you are intending to support.”
Elite is not school sponsored. Owens invites merchants with questions to “give one of our coaches or me a call if you ever have a question about our fundraising or how you can support our kids.”
Miller Grove News
Another good week in the Grove. I am thankful for the rain we have had lately. I know many pools were starting to get low and a burn ban was issued for Hopkins County so maybe things will be greening back up, at least until the first frost hits.
Congratulations to our two celebrities in Miller Grove – Aleight Bessonett for winning the Hopkins County Cover Girl title for 2015 and Ashley Purser who brought home 1st place honors. Proud of both of these young ladies and their hard work. Both of their mothers were also active in the Cover Girl contest when they were in high school – Cherrie George and Robyn Flecker.
Last night was a great night at the annual Miller Grove School Fall Carnival. Despite the carnival being moved from Friday night to Thursday night (because of weather) there was a great crowd. This year stew and chili was served in the new gym as well as BINGO to cap off the night. The classroom booths were held outside of the new gym in the parking lot along with the PTO sponsored Cow Pie BINGO. There looked to be plenty of room out there but would have been nice to have had about one more hour of daylight. There were several students dressed in their Halloween costumes and a costume contest was held in the gym for the youngsters. I was proud that I got to go and see so many people I haven’t seen in a while. And, it was great to be able to see so many of the students I worked with while I was employed at the school. Many of them have grown up a lot compared to the little kids they were when I left the school two years go.
Happy Birthday this week to Dichele Smith on Oct. 25, Uleta Taylor on Oct. 27, Kevin Tipps on Oct. 28, Billy Dunn & Terri Jill (McGowan) Asbill on Oct. 29, and Scott Wren on Oct. 31.
Happy 4th Anniversary to James and Ashley (Blackstead) Oler who were married on Oct. 29. Happy 44thAnniversary to Paul and Sherri (Renshaw) Gilbert on Oct. 30.
As you travel the highways and byways don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
District 7 – 3A Standings Offer Tigers Playoff Hope
Anything could happen in the remaining two weeks of the regular high school football season according to Coach Dickey Meeks as the Mt Vernon Tigers face the Prairiland Patriots, 7:30 pm, Friday, October 30, 2015 in Patriot Stadium. The outcome of tonight’s District 7-3A games will set up the play-off run for next week.
Wade Bartley Seeks Commissioner Precinct #3 Re-election
I want to say thanks to the citizens of Hopkins County and Precinct #3 for allowing me to have served these past three years as Commissioner of Pct #3. It has been and is an honor to serve with the present Commissioners Court. I look forward to serving the citizens of Hopkins County another term, and would appreciate everyones support from Pct. #3.
As a court we have strived to run the county government with the taxpayer and the future in mind. Many of the decisions made by the court have not been easy. I am proud to be a part of that decision making, and feel that we have made progress in several areas. Over the past three years we have gone out for bids on several of the services used by the county to conduct our business. We have been able to save several thousands of dollars by making changes in the providers of those services. Just to mention a few, when the new jail bonds were passed by the voters, we went out for bids for County Financial Advisor. By changing companies, we were able to save almost one million dollars in interest on the bonds by using the strategy of a new company. We went out for bids for insurance providers for the county this past year. We changed companies and saved the tax payers over one hundred thousand dollars in insurance premiums. We went out for bids for services of collection on delinquent taxes. This created new competition for those services and the present company offered a better deal by lowering their collection percentage rate and also providing more assistance to our tax collectors office.
On the matter of county roads, which is of most importance to our rural residents living on those roads, I being one of them, wish there was enough time in the day and enough money, that everyone could have a smooth road to travel on. We try our hardest, with the resources we have available, to maintain the county roads in good condition. It doesn’t happen. We have been able to procure a couple of grants for our county roads due to damage from weather conditions and are in the process of using that money and saving our regular budget money when that runs out. Our regular budget limits us on how many people we can work and how many supplies we can buy to use on the roads. And that usually runs out before end of year. Weather conditions dictate what we can accomplish on the roads throughout the year. We not only work on the roads, but we maintain the road right of way and most of the time, the equipment that we work with.
In closing, it would be my honor to serve Hopkins County and the citizens of Pct. #3 this next term. Everyone’s support would be greatly appreciated.
20th Anniversary of Lights of Life Campaign Kick Off is November 3
Next Tuesday, November 3 at 10 a.m. there will be a kick off for the 20th anniversary for the Lights of Life campaign. Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation Director Jackie Thornton and Lights of Life and Gala Tri-chairs Donna Rudzik, Polly Swatsell and Gloria Mitchell were guests on KSST’s Good Morning Show with Enola Gay Thursday morning.
Wildcat, Lobo Head Coaches Talk Friday Night
Wildcat football travels to Longview for the next to last game of the 2015 season Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. While the Wildcats are winless, the Lobos of Longview are planning playoff plans. They are at the top of the district list with Marshall and Texas High. If the Lobos win out they will share the district title. Wildcat Coach Greg Owens and Lobo Coach John King discussed the game this week with KSST Sports Director Don Julian this week.
Longview Head Coach King said the Lobos had found their identity and hit their stride during district play. Running the football is the strength of the Lobo offense according to King. In the rain last week, they didn’t throw the ball much. Rain this Friday night may hamper their passing game as well. King starts his team with a strong pre-district schedule. Lufkin, John Tyler, and others are considered perineal strong East Texas teams. Tyler Miller, the Lobos’ premier running back will be stronger this week. He is in the third week of recovery from an injury. King said the running attack had been “by committee.” He expects the Wildcats to rise to the occasion for the game this week.
The Wildcats have been a strong first half team this season but the second half has given the team problems. Some are calling the game this Friday a David and Goliath match up, with the Wildcats being David this year. Wednesday Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens referred to Friday night opponent Longview as year in and year out the best program in East Texas. Owens said the Lobo defense will create difficulties for the Wildcat offense. Speed, size, and the ability to read the opposing offense contribute to the Lobos’ ability. Lobos offensive line is huge with a 385 pound lineman, according to Owens.
The Wildcats have been able to move the ball up and down the field but when within the red zone problems occur. Owens calls the Lobos a strong inside-their-own 20 team.
To get ready for the Lobos, who Coach Owens also called athletically the best team in the district, the Wildcats went to the movies as a team bonding activity Monday. They saw the faith-based football film, Woodlawn.
