Stolen Again Hannah Returns to Shelton’s Team
Hannah Kirby may have lost the knockout round to Caitlin Caporale Tuesday night on The Voice but the drama did not stop there. The Sulphur Springs native who began playing voilin at age 8, sang Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” while New Yorker Caporale picked up the knockout with Demi Lovato’s “Warrior”. The knock out may have displaced Kirby from Pharrell’s team but Blake Shelton may have picked up the last laugh was he stole Hannah back to his team.
In the competition, the songs made evident the style of Pharrell’s music fit Caporale’s voice in a more natural presentation. Hannah’s voice seemed to strain slightly in the styling of her song. With Shelton’s team and understanding of the Sulphur Springs connection, Hannah should have a better option in music in the next opportunity she will face.
A downtown watch party gave local support to Hannah and will again at the next opportunity.
House Committee Considers E-Cigarette Ban
by Ryan McCrimmon, The Texas Tribune – March 24, 2015
A week after the Texas Senate passed a bill to prevent minors from buying electronic cigarettes, House lawmakers on Tuesday considered similar legislation they say would protect young Texans from addictive nicotine products.
The House Public Health Committee took up five bills that would extend current restrictions on tobacco products to vapor products like e-cigarettes. Texas retailers are banned from selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to customers younger than 18, but sales of e-cigarettes to minors are allowed.
Texas is one of nine states that allow minors to buy e-cigarettes, which are considered less toxic than conventional cigarettes but contain the addictive substance nicotine.
State Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, author of a bills that would ban e-cigarette sales to minors, said her 14-year-old daughter could walk down the street from her school, enter a shop and legally purchase an electronic cigarette.
“As a parent, I’m not comfortable with this situation,” Collier said. Right now, she said, it’s left to individual business owners to choose not to sell vapor products to minors.
Bills filed by Collier and fellow Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs; Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City; Oscar Longoria, D-Mission; and Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, would all restrict the sale of e-cigarettes to people younger than 18 years old. The bills differ mainly by referring to the products they seek to ban as either “vapor products,” “nicotine products” or “e-cigarettes.” The committee did not vote on any of the bills Tuesday.
Electronic cigarettes have grown steadily in popularity since they were introduced in 2005 and now represent a $3 billion industry worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. They are often marketed as a method for smokers to quit tobacco cigarettes.
But there’s concern that e-cigarettes can also act as a gateway to more harmful tobacco products.
Last week on the Senate floor, state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, called e-cigarettes “training devices” that young people use before moving on to products like tobacco cigarettes. The Senate passed Hinojosa’s Senate Bill 97 to make it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors.
The World Health Organization has also warned that with fruit and candy-like flavors, e-cigarettes can seem even more attractive to youths.
On Tuesday, several high school students from Central Texas testified in favor of restricting e-cigarette sales.
“Texas has the opportunity with this bill to create environments that are safer, cleaner and healthier for children now and in the future,” said James Collins, a Hays High School senior and vice chairman of the Kyle Area Youth Advisory Council. The group started advocating against electronic cigarette use by minors after several students noticed classmates “vaping” on campus.
“The e-cigarette is the device, and the vapor is the component that can actually cause harm to health,” Collins said. “In addition to nicotine being in the vapor, minors can also use the device as a way to deliver hash oil and even methamphetamine. The exploitation of the device, specifically vaporization, goes a lot deeper.”
Andy Garza, a junior at Lehman High School in Kyle, told the story of a friend who felt addicted to e-cigarettes.
“She didn’t know that it was addictive, because many people are misinformed,” Garza said. “They think it’s healthy. They think there’s nothing wrong with it. They think it’s fun.”
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/house-committee-considers-e-cigarette-ban-minors/.
Lights of Life Campaign Donates Funds Raised for Hopkins County Memorial
The Sulphur Springs Country Club hosted the Lights of Life Celebration reception and check presentation on Tuesday, March 24. The check contains some of the funds raised from the Lights of Life Campaign & Gala. Various people were recognized for their support of the campaign, helping raise over $285,000 which broke all previous records. The check will give $158,000 to the Memorial Hospital CEO/Michael McAndrew and the hospital Board of Directors.
The funds given to Memorial Hospital will be used to purchase 3 new Telemedicine machines, 3 flex coils for the MRI machine, and a new EMS 1st response vehicle. The funds will also be added to the Health Care Foundation “Leaving a Legacy” Endowment Fund.
The Health Care Foundation Board Chair, Bob Weaver also announced that Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik, and Polly Swatsell will serve as the 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign & Gala Chairs. The 20th Anniversary of the Annual Lights of Life Campaign & Gala begins November 3. The Gala is scheduled for Saturday, January 23 at the Civic Center. Sponsorship mailing goes out on June 1st.
Winnsboro Police Report
Winnsboro Police Department reported no arrests for the week of Monday, March 16-Sunday, March 22. The department did issue 25 citations and 20 warnings. There were 166 calls for service.
One accident was investigated on Tuesday March 22. A sedan traveling several feet behind a pickup failed to control speed and struck the back of the pickup. The sedan then struck a pipe fence and gate. No injuries were reported in the accident.
Hopkins County Day in Austin
The annual Hopkins County Day at the Texas State Legislature is coming up next week. The Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the event. The event gives respresentatives of the City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County an opportunity to speak to their representatives according to Merridith Caddell, Chamber Executive. Caddell said those who attend the event will drive to Austin Monday for dinner with State District Representative Dan Flynn and State Senator Bob Hall and staff.
Approximately 25 from the area are expected to attend. Following a Tuesday meeting with Representative Flynn, those attending will visit with various state departments to discuss specific needs and desires. Caddell said that those attending would serve as a voice for Hopkins County to state government.
Bulkley Trucking Names Top Driver Recipient
Bill Carlton Sr. of Greenville, TX was named driver of the year and received a $15,000 award as Bulkley Trucking announced the recipients of their top driver award in their annual performance and fuel bonus awards program Tuesday, March 24 at their terminal in Brashear. Buckley Trucking is recognized as one of the top fuel-efficient refrigerated carriers in the country.
The awards program began three years ago, and Calton Sr. is the first driver to receive a cash reward. Previous recipients received a Ford Truck F-150. Bulkley Trucking is an over-the-road trucking company which specializes in time and temperature sensitive freight. Bulkley uses the latest technology for their trucks in order to pursue fuel efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. Bulkley uses Volvo trucks with iShift AT technology and fuel efficient trailer accessories, resulting in and average of 7.4 mpg since the program began.
“Our company’s success depends on our drivers doing the hard work, driving up and down the road every day,” Clint Bulkley, Founder and President of Bulkley Trucking, said. “Profit comes from developing efficiency on the road. Our state-of-the-art equipment and our drivers trained to take advantage of that efficiency are the keys to our company’s success.”
Celebration Plaza Expands Restaurant Options
Some downtown businesses are being renovated as several more restaurants will be opening up in the near future.
In the next six months a new Mexican food restaurant should be opening on Connaly Street. The owner’s vendor location has been a favorite at the downtown market for the past two years.
On Davis Street, Momma Faye’s, a BBQ place is expanding to Sulphur Springs. They are currently located in Dallas’ Deep Ellum District. The local location should open in May or June. According to Shane Shepard, Sulphur Springs Community Development Director, the outdoor pit behind the establishment should send the smell of barbecue across the downtown area.
Down Main Street, work should develop in the next 60 days on the location for Arturo’s Wood Fired Pizza. Arturo moved to Sulphur Springs after a tour of Texas stretching as far south as San Antonio as he sought a location in the state. He chose to move from Iowa and has been preparing for his new location here.
Other retail and dining venues are also considering Sulphur Springs for a location at this time. Shepard said he and others are going door to door visiting businesses in other cities to present the Sulphur Springs as a location
Western Swing at Jamboree
PJC Increases Tuition
After years of no or minimal tuition increases at Paris Junior College, the Board of Regents voted Monday to raise out-of-district and out-of-state tuition by $5 per credit hour for the 2015-2016 academic year. In-district tuition will remain the same.
“We are facing the possibility of no increase in funding from the state,” explained PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “Current appropriation bills have minimal or no funding increases and this won’t offset the years of budget cuts we have received.”
Additionally, the average number of Texas community college students residing in their taxing district is 65 percent while the average for PJC students living in district is only 15 percent. Despite serving five counties, PJC’s taxing district is the city limits of Paris and the former Cunningham school district. The increase would bring in approximately $400,000 in more revenue. Even with the increase, PJC tuition will still fall below the state average.
“If PJC were successful in an annexation election,” said Dr. Anglin, “the number of students living in district would be 95 to 96 percent.”
To provide more assistance to students, the PJC Memorial Foundation will contribute $1 million in scholarships for the second year in a row.
In other business, the Regents:
- Received a financial report showing total revenues of more than $27 million, which is slightly down from last year. Expenses are down as well, so PJC remains in a good cash position.
- Heard a report that the bill approving handguns on campus passed the House. Dr. Anglin related a story of a campus police officer who was “shot” in an active shooter exercise because he was in street clothes. As a result of that experience, he has worn a uniform every day since.
“If you asked the police chief of every college and university in the state, the general consensus is this legislation will not make a college campus safer,” Dr. Anglin said, “it will make the college campuses less safe. We risk students shooting students because they don’t know who the bad guy is.”
- Approved the auction bid for sale of properties that have been struck off the tax roles.
- Voted to continue local charitable giving through the United Way by opting out of the State Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign. This allows donations to remain local.
- Accepted the Aramark food service contract for 2015-2016, including a 6 percent increase.
- Voted to accept the resignations/retirements of Office Technology Coordinator/Instructor Anita Ferguson effective May 15 and Associate Degree Nursing Instructor Judith Smith and History Instructor Allen Williams effective Aug. 31. Also approved reemployment of current full-time faculty for 2015-2016.
