Warrior Run, Other Events at Cooper Lake State Park
What a difference a month can make. At the beginning of March Cooper Lake was still eleven and a half feet low. Now, at the beginning of April, we are only two and a half feet below our “pool level” of 440. At the beginning of March only canoes, kayaks, and flat bottom boats were getting in the lake. Now we are able to accommodate all size boats at any ramp on the lake. The swim beach in the South Sulphur Unit was nothing but a puddle of mud and now it has plenty of water to swim in and the sandy beach is ready for sand castles and the sun bather.
Spring started on March the 20th. We have seen the wild cherry trees blossom and at present the redbud trees are in bloom. The wildflowers are beginning to make their appearance along with the leafing out of the trees, bushes and grasses of the area. It never ceases to amaze me to see the transformation of the flora and fauna in late winter and early spring. Part of this includes the arrival of migrating birds that pass through this area on their way north and others that return to call this area home for the summer. Butterflies are flying around as well as a number of other bugs and insects that we may not like so much. And, we need to take added vigilance for the snakes that are coming out of their winter hibernation. Seventy-six different species of snakes call Texas home. East Texas has the largest number of species at about twenty-seven. Of these only four species are venomous. They are the copperhead, coral, water moccasin, and the rattle snake.
Be sure to take time to get out to the park and visit with us. We have a variety of programs available that you can take advantage of. Come for the day or for the weekend. We have several special events this month that may be of interest to you. On April 11th, we will be the host site for the Tanner Higgins Warrior Run. For more information visit their website at http://www.tannerstonehiggins.com/ . That same afternoon will be the Camp Dutch Oven cooking program. At the end of the month, April 25th will be our annual Kid’s Fishing Derby.
Why Hannah needs your Votes…
Now “The Voice” will be on THREE nights this week, and YOUR VOTE is of the utmost importance. This weeks competition is the “Live Playoff Rounds” which means that America will be voting to save the Top 2 artists from each team. The coaches will have the opportunity to save one additional artist to round out their team going into the final Live Shows where the Final 12 will compete. Obviously the most important part here is the part where you, your friends, family and anybody else you can get to vote for Hannah Kirby!!!
Click on the following link to learn how you can vote a maximum of 51 times for Hannah.
Learn how to maximize your vote.
I think some folks have even figured out how to get some different devices involved to increase the number of times that they can vote. Obviously, we all need to figure out how to maximize the number of times we can show our support for our local songstress.
Blue Bell Halts Production
In a continued effort to solve the Listeria contamination problem, Blue Bell has agreed to halt production at their Oklahoma plant. The plant will remain closed as Blue Bell, working with the FDA, determines the cause of the contamination and is able to resume safe operation. Consumers are urged by the CDC to remove and dispose of any products made from the Broken Arrow, OK plant. Those products are identified with a date code found on the product containing one of the following letters (O,P,Q,R,S,T). The letter will be the LAST character of a date code. (ex. 040116S). You can read more info about the products on the recall by clicking on the following links:
Info from Blue Bell Creameries
Although 1/2 gallons, quarts, and pints are reportedly NOT included in the recall, some grocery stores are removing ALL Blue Bell products from their shelves. With 3 deaths and multiple sicknesses attributed to this outbreak, the CDC has great advice: “when in doubt, throw it out”!!
Lady Cat Score 20 Runs; Beat Longview
The Lady Cats’ softball team had way too much offense for Longview on the road Friday night as the Lady Cats took a 20-6 win. The Lady Cats are now 6-2 in district play and 12-4 for the season. The Lady Cats continue the second half of district play as they will host Marshall at Lady Cat Park next Tuesday night. The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Mavs in Marshall on March 16.
Hot Bats Keep Wildcat Baseball in District Lead
The Wildcats’ baseball team remained on top of the district standings at 6-0 as they defeated Longview, 8-4 at Eagle Stadium Friday night. The Wildcats were able to overcome some shaky defense with good hitting throughout their lineup and good pitching from Ben Brooks. Despite six errors, the Wildcats pounded out 17 hits and scored 8 runs. Brooks yielded only 4 hits and allowed no earned runs. The Wildcats travel to Marshall Tuesday night
SSHS Bands Win Sweepstakes
With a top performance at UIL Band Competition Thursday, the Wildcats Varsity Band claimed Sweepstakes this school year. It was also a special day Thursday for the High School Concert Band.
Charles McCauley, Fine Arts Director at SSHS, said it was a historic day. For the first time in 30 years, the non-varsity band and the varsity band received Sweepstakes. The varsity band played a difficul nine minute piece to place. McCauley said there was little time available for the students to put together the performance due to limited practice because of weather and other complications. The sight reading had held problems for the SSHS band for the past two years. However, this year the music made sense as a piece of music and the students responded well to the accidentals in the musical score. Solos went well. McCauley said at least two freshmen students, one on clarinet and one on flute, had solo parts. McCauley said it was a great day.
Steven Proctor has been an assistant band director at Sulphur Springs schools for 30 years. He directs the Concert Band or what some would call the junior varsity band. The music that is played by the band is a grade lower but still challenging to the students during UIL competition. The Concert Band follows the same challenge of a memorized piece and a sight-reading piece. Proctor was delighted with the performance of the Concert Band as well as the Symphonic or varisty band.
Watch Party and Voting for Hannah on The Voice
Hannah Kirby
Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance will once again host a Watch Party for Hannah Monday night when she appears on the Live Rounds of NBC’s The Voice. The Watch Party will be in the gym of the First United Methodist Church. Everyone, whether at the Watch Party or watching The Voice at home, is invited to attend and help support Hannah by voting.
There are several ways one may vote for Hannah. By following a few steps, each person can vote the equivalent of 51 times. To vote:
1) Go to ITunes and buy ($1.29) the official “The Voice” release of Hannah’s song for that week. Purchasing the official release will count as one (1) vote.
2) Download “The Voice” app (it’s free) to your smartphone or tablet and vote each week for Hannah 10 times.
3) Phone in 10 times using Hannah’s assigned phone vote number which will be provided on screen during the broadcast.
4) Text message 10 times using Hannah’s assigned text vote number which will be provided on screen during the broadcast.
5) Search for Hannah on NBC’s The Voice official website (www.nbc.com/the-voice) and click on her 10 times.
6) Facebook/The Voice search for Hannah and click on her 10 times.
Following each of the above steps will enable each person to cast 51 votes each week.
PJC, A&M-Texarkana Sign Dual Admissions Agreement
Paris Junior College and Texas A&M University-Texarkana officials have signed a Dual Admissions Agreement (DAA) that gives students who wish to attain a baccalaureate degree a clear pathway to complete their degree in the areas of Business and Education.
A Financial Aid Consortium will allow PJC and A&M-Texarkana students to be concurrently enrolled without disruption to their financial aid award.
“This Dual Admissions Agreement provides PJC students with an opportunity to get a seamless baccalaureate in Business or Education,” said PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. “We are very excited about the collaboration with A&M-Texarkana to help meet the needs of students.”
This partnership will allow students to complete two years of coursework at each institution, and was designed to encourage students to complete their coursework for an Associate degree in Business or Education before transferring to A&M-Texarkana.
“The overarching goal of the Dual Admissions Agreement, Financial Aid Consortium, and 2+2 degree plans is to provide an explicit pathway to an A&M-Texarkana baccalaureate degree for all PJC students,” said A&M-Texarkana Provost Dr. Rosanne Stripling. “In doing so, our expectation is that students will avoid taking courses that do not apply to their desired degrees, thereby reducing their time to a degree as well as their financial investment.”
The management of the DAA between the two institutions will be coordinated through both Registrar’s offices at PJC and A&M-Texarkana, and the agreement establishes the terms and responsibility of each institution’s role in recruitment and admissions, tuition and fees, student advising, management of student records, and student grievances and conduct.
“We are very pleased to join with Paris Junior College in providing a pathway to higher education that will benefit students and their home communities. We look forward to collaborating with PJC to help students achieve their goals,” said A&M-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana President Dr. Emily Cutrer (left) and Paris Junior College President Dr. Pamela Anglin (right) sign a Dual Admissions Agreement on Wednesday, April 1 at PJC. The partnership will smooth the path for students pursuing their baccalaureate degrees in Business and Education.
