WISD Superintendent Morton Speaks at Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce Banquet
Part of the investment of a community is its investment in the local school system and the investment of the school system in the community according to Susan Morton, Superintendent of Winnsboro schools. Ms. Morton was the featured speaker at the Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet Thursday night, February 26. Ms. Morton addressed the group regarding the future of their local school system emphasizing community involvement, what Winnsboro schools are doing, and the future for Winnsboro schools including the need for a new high school complex.
Ms. Morton stated that the school serves as an integral part in community development. She said that when a new business or industry looks at a community, they question, “What is your school system like?” Believing that the school, chamber, and local businesses are partners in the process of growth, she said WHS has a very active Career, Technology, and Education Program where students are involved in various vocational programs including vocational agriculture, ag mechanics, and a family and consumer science department that includes work related jobs and job shadowing. Certification programs are also made available to the students and WISD is discussing a partnership with Northeast Texas Community College to develop certification programs that will allow graduates to have life-wage earning skills and certification upon graduation from high school.
She also emphasized the success of the various grade levels and programs in the school system. She pointed to the success of the high school and middle school fine arts program, the dual credit program, academic, as well as community service opportunities exercised by students. Ms. Morton said the seamless education process followed by Winnsboro schools allows a specific profile for a graduate of Winnsboro High School. Students from the elementary through high school level participate in a number of projects that allows them to give back to the community while being mentored by community members thus developing the whole child while creating a successful, well developed citizen for the community.
Winnsboro ISD’s Facilities Committee’s recently completed facility study led to a recommendation to the school board that a new high school be built. Ms. Morton states that the new facility is needed to not only provide space for an increasing student population but also to provide adaptable space for vocational programs. A civil engineer and another company have been contacted to do a topographical survey which has been conducted on property that the school system currently owns behind the current elementary school and on other possible locations for the building. Building a new high school would allow the middle school to move into the current high school building and provide space to expand the elementary school. Ms. Morton’s preference is to move all the schools in one area on one side of town to promote safety and to “have that [education] dynamic” on one side of town.
Local Pastor Arrest For Child Pornography by Homeland Security Agents
The senior pastor of Lake Highlands Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs was arrested by Homeland Security agents Thursday for possession of child pornography. Chad Calhoun, Senior Pastor at Lake Highlands, was recently indicted on the charge by a federal grand jury. Calhoun has been booked into a federal prison in Longview. The pastor was originally investigated last summer. His computer was seized and was examined by a computer forensics lab.
Calhoun is no longer affiliated with Lake Highlands Church.
HISTORY OF NETLA SHOW
HISTORY OF NETLA SHOW
So how old is the Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show. Enola Gay enlisted an esteemed panel to find out and to reflect on the show. Here is some of the conversation Thursday morning.
Enola Gay and Kevin Gibson
Kevin Gibson is the President of NETLA, the North East Texas Livestock Association. Their annual Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show gets underway Thursday. Gibson talked about NETLA and the livestock show with Enola Gay on KSST’s Good Morning Show Thursday morning.
Saltillo over the Ector Eagles, 32-29 in Overtime
Sr. Edward Jaime
Sr. Braden Ivy
Sr. Cade Daniel
Jr. Jordan Lane
Jr. Lane Bench
Sr. Marc Boekhorst
Sr. Dakota Carroll
Sr. James Stretcher
Sr. Braden Ivy
Miller Grove News by Brandon Darrow
Cold, wet weather is abounding this week. With the cold spell this week and the projected winter weather storm for this weekend, we know that winter is far from being over.
First and foremost I would like to pass my condolences along to the family of Jim Burns. Jim passed Wednesday, Feb. 25, leaving many loved ones to mourn his loss. Jim was a good friend and distant cousin of mine. Please keep his family in your prayers. Next week’s column will contain more information about Jim’s life and the many memories he leaves behind.
Congratulations are due to our Miller Grove Lady Hornets basketball team. They now hold the title of Bi-District Champs after defeating Avinger last week! Team members are: Candace Earp, Ashley Purser, Bailey Penny, Kayla Ford, Aleigh Bessonett, Demi Weatherford, Alex Zeigler, Kayleigh Lester, Larissa Alvarez, and Eden Godwin.
I had planned on going to the Miller Grove International Livestock Show this past Saturday but I had to work that morning and thought by the time I got home the show would have ended. I believe this is the 4th year we have had the show at the roping arena south of Miller Grove. The results are as follows: Mika Gray – Grand Champion Steer & Jr. Showmanship, Ashley Purser – Grand Champion Heifer and Showmanship, Lacey Taylor – Grand Champion Swine & Sr. Showmanship, Grant Earp – Reserve Grand Champion Swine & Jr. Showmanship, Hannah Caudle – Grand Champion Lamb Sr. Showmanship, Dharma Reeves – Reserve Grand Champion Lamb, Alexus Sallee – Jr. Showmanship, Miranda Frobish – Grand Champion Goat & Sr. Showmanship, Coeby Purser – Reserve Grand Champion Goat, Jolee Fox – Jr. Showmanship, Haley Dyer – Grand Champion Broiler, and Parker Dyer – Reserve Grand Champion Broiler.
Miller Grove Volunteer Fire Department is going to host it’s 1st annual Predator Hunt on March 21-22. Anyone wanting to participate can call Jay Hoffman (903-274-9156) or Justin Block (903-440-6577) for more information. Teams can consist of up to 3 team members and cost of entry is $125 per team with 60% payout.
Happy Birthday this week Kelly Mabe on Feb. 22, Linda (Waskom) Crockett, Shelly (Ragan) Gaston on Feb. 23, Amy Stewart on Feb. 24, Janie (Millsap) Miller on Feb. 27, and Bret Garrett & my nephew Owen Darrow on Feb. 28 (this is his first birthday).
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].
Campbell Faces Skepticism of Alamo Protection Proposal
by Eva Hershaw, The Texas Tribune – February 24, 2015
State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, was grilled by fellow senators Tuesday over her proposal to ban foreign control of the Alamo.
Campell proposed the Protect the Alamo Act in response to a nomination that could make the San Antonio Missions — including the emblematic Alamo — a World Heritage site through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A decision is expected to be announced in July. Campbell said that without the law to protect the Alamo, there would be a risk that the Texas General Land Office, which manages the Alamo and surrounding properties, could sell it.
“In the charge to the battle, the battle cry was ‘Remember the Alamo,’ and since then, the Alamo has been recognized as hallowed ground in Texas, and a shrine of Texas liberty,” Campbell said at a hearing before the The Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee. “The Alamo is a story of Texas, and it should be owned, operated, and maintained, controlled by Texans.”
But several lawmakers said the proposal, also known as Senate Bill 191, is unnecessary — and, worse, that it could cause the UNESCO voting committee to look unfavorably on the San Antonio nomination.
“I don’t think there is anyone that disagrees with you about the Alamo and its history,” said Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio. “I don’t think there is any member on this committee that will allow the Alamo to be sold. The concern I have simply is that we are sending the wrong message.”
A World Heritage designation would add up to $105 million in additional economic activity to Bexar County by 2025, as well as up to 1,100 jobs and as much as $2.2 million in additional hotel tax revenue, according to a 2013 report by the Harbinger Consulting Group.
Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, quizzed Campbell on her knowledge of UNESCO sites. “What are some of the other UNESCO sites in this state and country?” he asked. Campbell responded, “I don’t know, because my bill is about preserving the Alamo; it is not about having a discussion regarding UNESCO.”
Land Commissioner George P. Bush’s deputy told lawmakers that the General Land Office would only be able to sell the Alamo if lawmakers passed legislation directing them to do so.
“I believe Commissioner Bush would state emphatically that we are not interested in selling the Alamo or giving up our authority on the Alamo,” said Deputy Land Commissioner Larry Laine.
“Commissioner Bush would say no to allowing the Alamo to be sold, but what about the next commissioner?” Campbell asked Laine, who responded, “I cannot speak for that next commissioner.”
“I can’t either,” said Campbell. “And neither can anyone else.”
Betty Bueché, Bexar County’s facilities and parks director, told lawmakers the bill is unnecessary and potentially harmful.
“There is nothing in the operational guidelines that indicates that UNESCO intercedes in the operations or management of any site,” said Bueché, who said she was speaking on behalf of the county commissioners court. “I believe this is not needed and that it will send a message to the 21 voting members on the committee that the state of Texas is not enthusiastic about wanting this to happen.”
The bill was left pending by the committee on Tuesday, a historic day for the Alamo. It was 179 years ago that Texas troops first called for help to defend the mission, which had fallen under attack by the Mexican army.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/02/24/campbell-faces-skepticism-face-alamo-bill/.
More Discounts for Local RadioShack Store
Discounts are getting deeper today (up to 60% off) for the remaining inventory here at RadioShack. Bare shelves are showing through as high end electronics are moving fast. More traditional RadioShack staples were still in stock when KSST last visited the store.
Bone to Pick #1372, by Eddie Trapp, FEBRUARY 26, 2015
1372 BONE TO PICK FEBRUARY 26, 2015
Back when John Silman and I coached in junior high, Jeff Phifer scored several touchdowns. When he hit passing gear nobody was going to catch him. At a ballgame recently he came up to me and said, “I’ve got a bone to pick with you.” My mind jumped back years and years as I tried to remember some problem we had. Coming up empty I asked him what he meant. He said, “You know, like where did that phrase come from?” Jeff had been reading my article one week where I mentioned the origin of a phrase so he wondered about the bone picking saying. After studying a while I told Jeff I didn’t know but I would soon. Sure nuff, here is what the trusty internet provided.
“Having a bone to pick with you” goes back at least as far as the 1600’s. There was no television, video games, or cell phones back then. People just sat around on rocks and used their brain. Wasn’t much entertainment. Somebody apparently was watching a dog chew on a bone for hours until he got every last little scrap of goody off the bone. The phrase simply means one person is going to talk and talk (chew and chew) to another person until the problem is completely resolved. A similar phrase, bone of contention, goes back to the 1500’s and refers to two dogs fighting over a bone. In Ireland, it means, “I believe you have wronged me and I think you know the reason why.” Thanks Jeff, for asking, and for playing football.
On some of these windy cool days I seem to watch more television than years ago. Wondering about terrorism I sometimes watch the news channels. In college one of my courses was public speaking and we were cautioned about jingling coins in our pocket, using a distracting phrase, or walking back and forth too much. Terrorism seems to have opened the gate for interviews between our big cities and troubled places overseas. You know that little pause between one person’s question and the other person’s answer. I think it is both humorous and distracting when the person overseas most of the time will start his/her answer with, “Well.” See if journalists on your channel do that.
Over the years Jean and I have seen a solid black hawk along 895 between Charleston and Highway 19. Most sightings are either near Bruce Switzer’s house or about two miles further west near the Clark Ridge cutoff. This dark hawk is actually a variation, or race, of our common red tailed hawk. Not only is there a dark variety but a very light one as well. All living things have a Latin scientific name to prevent confusion between common, local names. Various regions, for example, may call a meadowlark a field lark or fee lark. To save arguments the meadowlark is known worldwide as Sterna magna. (A scientific name is supposed to be underlined but my stupid laptop won’t let me without underlining the whole sentence.)Those two words are its genus and species names. All living things have a genus and species name. The red tailed hawk is named Buteo jamaicensis. In the case of something like the red tailed hawk needing further separation because of color we can add a third word called a subspecies. A light colored red tailed hawk is called B. j. krideri. The dark one is B. j. calurus. Watch for the dark colored hawk on a power line as you go up the hill between McGuyer Branch and Bruce Switzer’s.
Book 11 of the On The River articles is finished and home from the printer. They cost me sixteen dollars but I am sticking to my old price of fifteen. To order a copy call 903 439 8110 or email me at the address listed at the end of today’s article.
Last year about this time, Junior Larkin, Kenneth Gillean, and I went to Lake Tawakoni to see the weigh in of their annual blue catfish tournament. You weigh your five biggest fish which are then released alive. Cabela’s King Kat Catfish Tournament will be this coming weekend with weigh in Saturday, February 28 at 3:00 p.m. To enter the contest you must be a member of the King Kat Association. Dues are $25 a year. Locals may enter but mainly this is for those that follow the tour like pro bass fishermen. For registration call 270 395 6774. Weigh in is at the West Tawakoni City Park. The boat ramp is at Anchor Inn Marina across the road from the city park. Call 903 447 3020 for more info. If you want to see some catfish over fifty pounds plan to attend the weigh in.
A few days ago Stan Szafrin and two of his Pennsylvania friends, Eric Wilby and Dave Coult, hog hunted with Casey Williams, Montana Anderson, and me. Three hogs were caught and they had a great time.
Thanks to Aunt Belle for the following joke. A man and his wife got into arguments at times and neighbors heard the man repeatedly tell his wife that after he died he was going to dig his way up out of the grave and come haunt her. He died and after the funeral the neighbors asked the wife if she was afraid he would dig his way out and haunt her. She said, “Let him dig. I had him buried face down and I know he is too contrary to ask directions.”
Thursday Delayed Openings
Mt Vernon ISD: A two-hour delay for buses and start of classes
