The Paris Junior College Welding Class Underwent Certification Testing
CERTIFYING
The summer welding class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center welding shop underwent certification testing Tuesday. Student Nickolas Niemirowski of Campbell has his project inspected by Instructor John Plemons. Nickolas, along with the rest of the class, passed certification.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
SSISD Changes Academic Calendar One Week Before Classes Start
The Board of Trustees of the Sulphur Springs Independent School District met this week and made sweeping changes for the 2023-2024 Calendar. The first day of classes for students remains to be August 22, 2023, but several staff prep days have now been changed to instructional days meaning students will report to the classroom on those days. This change is to create more time for students in the classroom.
The six extra days that students will now have to attend class are:
- September 25, 2023
- October 16, 2023
- November 6, 2023
- December 11, 2023
- February 12, 2024
- May 10, 2024
Students and Teachers will pick up an extra holiday on April 1, 2024 as that day was previouly listed as a Staff Prep day but will now be designated as a Holiday in observance of Easter (which this year falls on March 31, 2024).
Teachers will still report for Staff Prep days on January 8 & 9, 2024 as well as March 18, 2024 and May 24, 2024. Two “weather make-up days” remain on the calendar for SSISD for February 23 & May 17, 2024.
The revised SSISD 2023-2024 calendar is shown below.
Speeding Leads to Arrest on Warrants and Drug Charge
August 15, 2023 – Cumby Police stopped a speeding vehicle this week and a records check revealed multiple warrants.
CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN MARTIN, age 41 of Cumby, was found to be wanted by Hopkins County and the US Marshals. Martin was arrested and placed in a patrol car. The grey pickup he had been driving was about to be released to his mother. Martin had provided consent to have the pickup searched before she took possession, but he changed his mind and attempted to prevent the search. A K-9 unit was called, and made a positive hit on the pickup. A probable cause search was performed.
A bottle of prescription drugs was located in the center console. The label had been removed. The owner of the pills was unable to be determined. Martin, who lists himself as unemployed and disabled, was also charged with possession of dangerous drug. The pickup was released to his mother.
He is charged with:
1 37.09(C) TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
1 481.115(B) POSS CS PG 1/1-B <1G
1 US MARSHAL VOP
1 483.041(D) POSS DANGEROUS DRUG
This is not the first time Martin has been in Jail. In 2014 he was arrested in Hunt County Texas. Martin, then 31 years-old, received two indictments for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one indictment for possession of a controlled substance. Martin was alleged in the indictments to have been in possession of a rifle and a pistol during a January 2 incident in the 1200 block of Walworth Street in Greenville.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
SSISD Announces After School Program
August 14, 2023 – Students from ages 5-11 will be able to spend their afternoons on school days at the Barbara Bush campus as the school district releases the information this week for parents. SSISD will be accepting students for the program which starts August 22 and lasts until May 23, with the after school program not being held on regular school holidays. The After School Program will be offering homework help, play-based learning as well as an afternoon snack. There is a $75 charge for the Monday-Friday program (plus processing fees) and students will be transferred by bus to the campus. The students will spend each afternoon at the campus from 3:30pm until 5:45pm.
Interested parents should contact:
Amanda Cochran 903-348-6131 or Patricia Garcia 903-885-2153 x1107
There is also an online registration option here: SSISD After-School Program Signup
New Extension Agent Starts October 1st
August 14, 2023 – The new Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Family and Community Health agent for Hopkins County was officially welcomed by the Commissioners Court on Monday.
Johanna Hicks, former Family and Community Health agent for Hopkins County was on hand to welcome Lisa Sprague. Hicks retired after nearly three decades serving East Texas residents. She officially retired January 31, 2023.
Sprague most recently worked at the North Hopkins ISD. Her public profile gave details on her education and qualifications:
Sprague graduated from Sulphur Springs HIgh School in 1993. She worked in several professions before deciding to go back to college and complete my degree in education and graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in May 2014.
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on English.
TEA Certifications:
4-8 ELAR
7-12 ELAR
ESL EC-12
Family & Consumer Sciences Composite 7-12
Sprague will need to complete more training provided by the State of Texas. She will also spend time in the Titus County Extension office observing and learning from another Family and Community Health agent.
Hopkins County Commissioners Vote to Lower Tax Rate
August 14, 2023 – Hopkins County Tax Assessor-Collector Debbie Pogue Jenkins made the recommendation to the court Monday morning to lower the effective tax rate for county residents. The recommendation came as a result of an increase in the overall valuation of properties in the county as over 900 new properties were added to the tax rolls.
The current tax rate for Hopkins County is set at .523900/$100 or a little over 52 cents per $100 valuation of property values. The new lower rate propsed by Jenkins would be set at .495870/$100, a decrease of a little over 2 and 3/4 cents per $100 valuation.
Hopkins County has seen a decrease in the Tax RATE over the past few years although most residents have seen their tax bills go up over the same time period due to an increase in the Taxable VALUES. The taxable rate has decreased from .624892/$100 in 2018 to the current 2023 rate of .523900/$100 and once finalized by the commissioner’s court will go down to .495870/$100 for 2024. A public hearing for this issue is scheduled for August 21, 2023 in conjuction with a commissioner’s work session. The court will then consider to vote to make the lower tax rate official.
In addition, a referendum will be voted on in November state-wide to increase the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 to help lower each taxpayer’s school tax burden. This measure most certainly will pass and will go into effect for 2024. Some resident’s will have already received their tax statment and will have to have an adjustment calculated after the November ballot.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Supports Meal-A-Day
August 14, 2023 – The Hopkins County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to support the Hopkins County based Meal-A-Day program.
Meal-A-Day Director Amanda Dietlin was on hand to receive the proclamation and a check for over two thousand dollars. Dietline made a brief presentation and answered several questions from commissioners regarding where the funds will be used.
“Not only will this money be used in Hopkins County exclusively, but this financial support from the County is required for a grant we are applying for this fall.” said Dietlin. The Court moved quickly after a presentation by Dietlin was made at the a work session last month. “We have a September application window, so we really appreciate the support. We were kinda sweating whether we could apply for the grant or not.”
Meal-A-Day is anticipating some additional costs when the new Senior Center is opened. MAD will need to purchase equipment. One of the most anticipated purchases will be a larger oven. Shelving for the pantry will also be needed.
The City of Sulphur Springs provides space and pays for utilities used by MAD. MAD would not be able to deliver $2 meals without all the support. “The City has been great to us.”, said Dietlin. A request for similar financial support was made to the City Council last month.
Walkingsticks in Your Garden
Walkingsticks in Your Garden
By: David Wall
Walkingsticks are a group of insects that are masters of camouflage. Resembling a small twig, they’re almost impossible to see in a forest unless you’re very observant, specifically looking for them, or they happen to be moving. If, however, you’re able to observe one you’re in for a treat.
First of all, they’re masters of camouflage, resembling a small twig. In your garden, they’re about the length of your hand. In forests, they can be larger. The largest (not in the U.S.) one ever found measured 22” long, making them the longest insect worldwide by far!
Walkingsticks grow by molting. Interestingly, if a leg has been lost due to predators, the limb will rejuvenate during molting!
Generally considered harmless, walkingsticks prefer deciduous or hardwood leaves. After that, it’s almost as if the sky’s the limit! Grass, weeds, rose, and many other leafy treats are consumed. An overpopulation can do forest damage by eating tree leaves, the portion between the leaf veins. Outbreaks requiring spraying treatment, while seldom occurring, have been known in the SE Oklahoma forests. It Texas, outbreaks have occurred further south which is not unusual since walkingsticks are considered a tropical insect.
In your garden, walkingsticks are a little easier to spot, but you still need to be paying attention. They prefer feeding at night but can feed at any time. The literature says little about which garden vegetables a walkingstick likes, but their preference for cabbage is well known. Being a somewhat picky eater, they eat only the green portion!
Female walkingsticks contain self-fertilized eggs. If the female doesn’t mate, offspring will be females. If she does mate, offspring will be males!
Should you be seriously concerned about walkingsticks in your vegetable garden? In urban areas, the answer is no. In rural forested areas, it’s more likely.
Suspected Forger Back in Hopkins County Jail
August 12, 2023 – KEVIN LANK JONES was arrested at the Tarrant County Jail this week and returned to Hopkins County.
Jones was arrested in Hopkins County in March of 2023 after he and a partner attempted to cash a forged check. They concocted a ridiculous story in an attempt to explain their actions. See that story here. His bond is currently set at $50,000.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Houston Truck Driver Arrested After 10 Mile Chase
August 12, 2023 – Sixty year-old BENIGNUS CHUKWUDILUM UZOMAH was arrested this week and charged with evading arrest with a vehicle.
Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies received a report of a reckless west bound driver on Interstate 30 around 11 AM. A point of observation was set up at mile marker 131.
The reported semi was located and a deputy began following it. He observed the driver acting in a reckless manor. UZOMAH was unable to maintain his lane, allowed the semi truck and trailer to creep onto the shoulder and crossed the centerline several times.
A traffic stop was attempted, but UZOMAH would not stop. A second unit joined the pursuit. UZOMAH finally stopped his truck near mile marker 122. A felony takedown was performed and UZOMAH was assisted out of his truck. He was transported to Hopkins County Jail without further incident.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
