Sulphur Springs is Finalist for Two State-wide Awards
The City of Sulphur Springs is a finalist for two awards from a state-wide group. The city is one of three cities in each category. 
The two categories for the city are best downtown renovation and best downtown promotional event.
City Development Director Shane Shepard said the Texas Downtown Association has noted Sulphur Springs for the renovation of the building formerly a post office and then a public library, and now currently occupied by City Hall. The city is also being recognized for the Saturday market downtown. The city made application for the awards in June of this year.
Shepard stated that with all the cities in the state and the development currently untaken by so many, it is an honor for the city to be in the top three in the two categories.
PJC Named a National Leader College
Achieving the Dream today announced that Paris Junior College earned Leader College distinction—a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps. PJC has shown how data can inform policy and practice to help community college students achieve their goals, resulting in improved skills, better employability, and economic growth for families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
“Paris Junior College faculty, staff and students have worked together in a commitment to student success,” said PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. “PJC has consistently increased retention of students from the fall to the spring. The fall to spring retention rate increased from 59.4 percent in 2010-11 to 67.1% in 2013-14.”
“Becoming a Leader College is very powerful and affirms the exceptional work and commitment of faculty and staff to their students’ success,” said Achieving the Dream Vice President for Community College Relations Cindy Lenhart. “Paris Junior College is using evidence to make informed decisions that lead to significant institutional change.”
The 2015 Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges are:
Bakersfield College (Bakersfield, CA), Kingsborough Community College (Brooklyn, NY), Bellingham Technical College (Bellingham, WA), Lorain County Community College (Elyria, OH), Century College (White Bear Lake, MN), Muskegon Community College (Muskegon, MI), College of Southern Nevada (North Las Vegas, NV), North Lake College (Irving, TX), Columbus State Community College (Columbus, OH), Paris Junior College (Paris, TX), Cumberland County College (Vineland, NJ), Southwestern Oregon Community College (Coos Bay, OR), Delta College (University Center, MI), St. Clair County Community College (Port Huron, MI), Gaston College (Dallas, NC), St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, FL), Grand Rapids Community College (Grand Rapids, MI), West Los Angeles College (Culver City, CA), Jefferson Community & Technical College (Louisville, KY).
The 2015 Leader Colleges are making strides in the national movement to increase student completion and close achievement gaps, demonstrating the power of the Achieving the Dream Approach. With the guidance of Achieving the Dream Coaches, colleges not only systemically change the way they operate, but also implement key student supports that align with their overall policies and institutional systems, such as college readiness programs, mandatory new student orientation, student-success courses, developmental course redesign, curriculum redesign, and intensive, individualized advising.
Achieving the Dream grants Leader College designation for three-year cycles. After three years, institutions must undergo a recertification process to maintain Leader College status.
Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit that is dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Evidence-based, student-centered, and built on the values of equity and excellence, Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) guiding evidence-based institutional improvement, 2) leading policy change, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, today, Achieving the Dream is leading the most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. With over 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 35 states and the District of Columbia – the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps more than 4 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.
“Terrific Tuesdays” Mini-Walks Continue
This morning at the First United Methodist Church, Terrific Tuesdays hosted a mini-walk to help raise funds for their program. Along with the quilt raffle and the other mini-walks, Terrific Tuesdays raises funds to pay for their program all year long. The “Walk to Remember” walk will culminate at The Gardens at Memorial on the grounds of the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. That final walk (known as the Big Walk) will be Thursday, October 1st at 6:00 pm. Hopkins Place will host another “mini-walk” on Wednesday, September 22nd.
Early Release Friday for SSISD
All students in the Sulphur Springs ISD will be released at 12:50 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2015 allowing elementary teachers to conduct required Title I Parent Conferences beginning at 1:00 p.m. Teachers will be calling parents to schedule conference times. Middle School and High School teachers will be involved in staff development for the afternoon.
All campus staff will be dismissed at 3:30 p.m.
The SSISD Transportation Dept. will deliver all regular route bus students to their homes approximately 3 hours earlier. Buses will leave Prim Stadium hub at 1:10-1:15 and begin afternoon runs. Please make this adjustment to your family schedule for the afternoon of Friday, September 25.
Sulphur Springs City Council Special Meeting Agenda
The special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 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.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2667, the appropriations ordinance for the City of Sulphur Springs fiscal year 2015-2016.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2668, setting the tax rate for the City of Sulphur Springs.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2669, setting the sewer rate for the City of Sulphur Springs.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2670, authorization of updated service credits.
- Discussion/action on the 2016 proposed Hopkins County Appraisal District Budget.
- Visitors/public forum.
Legacy Ag Event Celebrates Agriculture
Legacy Ag Credit invites anyone interested in agriculture or consumer sciences to the Sulphur Springs Country Club Tuesday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m. for a Fajita dinner and special guest speaker, Michelle Payne-Knoper, a widely aclaimed agriculture advocate and author of “No More Food Fights”. Joseph Crouch with Legacy Ag Credit calls Payn-Knoper highly passionate about agriculture. Her book will be given to all who attend.
Payn-Knoper lives on a family dairy. She advocates the necessity of agriculture and consumers having a conversation about food and “why we do what we do on the farm side.” As a mother, she understands the necessity of quality food for her family as well as the challenges to the producer. In a phone interview with her, she stated that her dairy cattle are the view from her office. An award winning holsten breeder since she was nine (9) years old, her daughter is following in mom’s footsteps. Payn-Knoper as a mom has the same experiences at the grocery store that all mom’s have.
She will share her farm life story during the event.
Crouch said Legacy Ag Credit works in a chartered 10-county area and this event will celebrate agriculture.
KSST interviewed Crouch and Payn-Knoper recently regarding the event.
Law Enforcement Praise Two Boys for Reporting Attempted Sexual Assualt
Sulphur Springs Police Detective Sgt. David Gilmore arrested 51-year old Darrell Lynn Payne of Sulphur Springs last Thursday for two counts of attempted sexual assault. The case involved boys ages 14 and 15.
The two boys told their parents of the incident and the parents reported to police that a neighbor who lived down the road had proposed committing a sex act on the boys September 4th. He confessed to doing what the victims reported. Gilmore said most cases of this type are reported much later than the occurrence. Gilmore said these two reported it immediately to the parents. The boys gave identical statements which were confirmed when the perpetrator confessed.
Gilmore said the two boys did exactly what they should have done in resisting and reporting it instantly to their parents. As of Monday afternoon, Payne remains in Hopkins County Jail on $30,000 bond for each charge. As a stipulation of bond should he be released, Payne must wear a GPS device so he can be tracked by lawmen.
Fuentes Named Assistant Dean at A & M-Commerce
COMMERCE, TX—A&M-Commerce has hired Dr. Fernando “Fred” Fuentes Jr. as the assistant dean of Enrollment Management for Hispanic Outreach and Retention. Throughout his career at A&M-Commerce, Fuentes has worked successfully as a therapist and co-created the international travel abroad program, Sophomore Year Experience.
“With Dr. Fuentes’ expertise in student services and private industry, the students serviced by the Office of Hispanic Outreach and Retention will flourish,” said Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention, Dina Sosa.
Fuentes was the first in his family to graduate from high school. He began his career serving as a U.S. Army soldier in various Military Police Battalions throughout the U.S. and in international bases. Fuentes also worked as a USAID/Global Health Fellows Program Fellow with Mercy Corps International in Guatemala and Honduras where he provided HIV/AIDS education and empowerment of post-conflict, rural, indigenous youth. Fuentes moved to East Texas after working in Washington D.C. as a senior inclusion and diversity officer.
“I’m excited about joining a team of successful colleagues, impressive student leaders and an administration that is supportive and engaged in our goal to become a Hispanic Serving Institute,” said Dr. Fuentes. “This university means so much to my family and me. East Texas is where we raised our children, grew as a family and earned our degrees. We are mostly excited about our children joining the Lion Pride as future university students.”
Fuentes has been a foster parent to more than 15 children over the course of six years, including two children who are now a permanent part of his family.
A Walk to Remember
Mount Vernon Tigers Win Homecoming Game; Romero Named Homecoming Queen
Selena Romero was named Homecoming Queen and a 20-14 win Friday night sweetened the Mount Vernon High School Homecoming as the Tigers won their first game of the season. The Mount Vernon Tigers defeated the Lone Oak Buffaloes Friday, September 18, 2015 in Don Meredith Stadium. They are now 1-2 for the season.
Homecoming Court (l to r) Junior Duchess Bradyn Loy, Senior Nominee Tori Mitchell, Senior Nominee Jamie Seawright, Queen Selena Romero, Senior Nominee Kara Hollingsworth, Sophomore Duchess Braylee Bills, and Freshman Duchess Kristina King
The game began with the Buffaloes received the opening kick-off, but failed to convert a first down on the opening drive. The Tigers took over at their 38 yard line. Two plays later, Quarterback Bailey Floyd throw to Kevi Evans in the corner of the end zone for a 30 yard touchdown pass. Hylke Talma’s point after attempt was no good.
Buffaloes offense couldn’t move the ball on their next two downs. Austin Decker hurried the Buffaloes quarterback who threw an interception to Bryce Crow.
Noah Craver and Cameron Woods kept the Tigers next drive moving down the field. Ty’Reese Linwood caught a 12 yard pass in the end zone. Decker ran the ball in for a two point conversion to give Tigers a 14-0 lead with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
After a penalty was accessed on the kick-off return, Buffaloes started their drive on their 17 yard line. Tyler Cheves recovered a fumble for the Tigers on the second play of the drive. However, they went four plays and out.
Buffaloes quickly moved down the field into Tiger territory. A facemask call put them at the 23 yard line. Buffaloes gained yardage for the first down at the 9 yard line. Decker and Tanner Patterson sacked the Buffaloes quarterback on the next play. Buffaloes answered with a 9 yard pass to the end zone. The point after was good bringing the score to 14-7 with 8:46 left in the second quarter.
Patrick Hoffman took the kick-off return 27 yards to set up the Tiger drive, but the Tigers failed to convert a first down.
A personal foul call against Buffaloes gave them the ball at their 31. Buffaloes advanced the ball with runs of 11 and 28 yards to move to the Tiger 35. A 22 yard run to the end zone and a successful point after attempt tied the score at 14 with 5:17 left in the second quarter.
Neither team was able to convert on their next two possessions. Another sack on Buffaloes quarterback by Decker ended the half with a tied score.
Tigers received the kick-off to start the second half, but Tigers couldn’t keep the drive going and turned the ball over on downs.
Buffaloes moved the ball deep inside Tigers territory. Decker’s sack of the quarterback and the incomplete pass on the next play forced Buffaloes into a fourth down situation.
After the Buffaloes failed field goal attempt, Tigers took over on downs at their 20. After three tries, Tigers was unable to gain a first down and were forced to punt.
Buffaloes gained seven yards over three downs. Facing a fourth and three, a false start penalty moved Buffaloes back five yards. On the next play, Buffaloes completed a 15 yard pass for a first down. With a first and 10, Buffaloes recovered their own fumble for a four yard loss. Tigers recovered a fumble on the next play at the 33 yard line.
On a reverse, Evans took the ball 17 yards. A face mask penalty put Tigers on the Buffaloes 35. A short pass to Jake Graff and a 10 yard run by Craver gave Tigers a first and goal. Two plays later, Floyd threw to Ty’Reese Linwood in the end zone for a touchdown. A failed point after attempt left Tigers up 20-14 with 7:34 remaining in the game.
After an unsuccessful attempts to gain yardage by Buffaloes, Tigers set up at their 33 yard line. Decker took the ball 14 yards on the first play of the drive. Craver gained seven on two runs. A quarterback keeper left fourth and inches for Tigers. Evans carried the ball five yards to keep the drive going. With the ball in Buffalo territory, the Tigers managed the clock to run out the time and take their first win of the season 20-14.
The Tigers move to 1-2 on the season. They will face the Pittsburg Pirates, 7:30 pm, Friday, September 25, 2015 at Don Meredith Stadium.
Game and Homecoming report by Kellee Cannon, Mount Vernon Senior and KSST intern 
