Texas Legislation Bill Could Overturn 4 Day School Weeks
April 12, 2023- Texas legislation has a proposed bill that could overturn the current four-day school weeks seen throughout the state of Texas. This bill could cause the several school districts who have already converted to the four-day week system to return to the previous five day week.
Several Texas School districts have changed their schedules to allow for a four-day school week, including Sulphur Bluff Independent School Distrcit. Rains County has already voted and approved a four-day week to begin next school year. The idea of a four-day school week was introduced as a means to attract teachers to the districts to fill the lack of staff left by the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about the four-day school week and to see some districts that will be affected by this change read: Texas School Districts Switching To Four Day School Weeks.
Senate Bill 2368 authored by New Braunfels Republican state Sen. Donna Campbell, requires a minimum of 175 instructional days per school year and at least 75,600 minutes of operation, including time allocated for instruction, intermissions and recesses for students. A four-day school week typically has 144 school days.
Several parents and teachers are outraged by the idea of the bill being passed, some parents stating that due to the shortage of teachers four-day school weeks could bring in potential teachers.
A national Rand Corporation report that found student outcomes were negatively impacted, stating that “the test scores for (four-day school week) districts improved, but did so more slowly than they would have if the same schools had maintained a (five-day school week).”
Senate Bill 2368 is currently in committee and has not yet been presented to the Texas Senate for a vote.
Baseball Falls in Pittsburg, Begins Round Three Friday at L.E.
Sulphur Springs dropped their district game in Pittsburg as the Pirates made some timely hits count and capitalized on some Wildcat errors en route to a 4-2 win over Coach Jerrod Hammock’s team on Tuesday, Apr. 11.
Tied at two in the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates on their home field lead off with a single, and an error by pitcher Kaden Mitchell saw two runners on for Pittsburg.
The Sulphur Springs pitcher recovered by throwing two straight four-pitch strikeouts, but following that he walked three straight batters to give the Pirates their lead en route to the win over the Wildcats.
Tuesday’s duel in Pittsburg was a tight one all the way through between two schools vying for the final playoff spot.
Both teams went four innings each going three up, three down.
The Pirates made their hits count though, adding in two costly errors and Sulphur Springs fell 4-2 on Tuesday.
Pittsburg, trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third, used two singles and a dropped third strike to load the bases. Followed thereafter by a walk and another single, and the Pirates tied the ball game on their home field Tuesday evening.
Kaden Mitchell took the loss going four innings and allowing four hits and four runs, only one of which was earned.
He walked four but struck out seven Tuesday in Pittsburg. Ty Robinson appeared in relief for the final two, striking out four in the 4-2 loss.
Coach Jerrod Hammock’s squad did manage to outhit Pittsburg, 5-4.
Five Wildcats each got a hit Tuesday:
- Austin Chaney; 1 for 3, R, 2K
- Dane Oud; 1 for 3, RBI
- Kaden Mitchell; 1 for 3, K
- Ayden Alvarez; 1 for 2, BB
- Evan Moore; 1 for 2, R, BB, K
Falling to the Pirates is a costly one for Wildcats baseball, who are now an even 1-1 with the team Sulphur Springs is directly competing with for the final playoff spot.
The schools play one final time on Friday, Apr. 28 in Coach Hammock’s squad’s senior night. The final match-up between these two schools just might be a winner-takes-all district game for the final postseason position.
Next up, Wildcats baseball heads to L.E. Friday, Apr. 14 beginning round three of district play.
Saturday has Sulphur Springs hosting a non-district duel with Caddo Mills at 1 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Motorist Assist Lands Wolfe City Resident in Jail
April 12, 2023 – Wolfe City, TX resident Alycia Jean Woolsey was arrested and charged with felony possession of controlled substance this week.
Woolsey, age 37, was stopped on Interstate 30 near mile marker 128 when Sulphur Springs Police stopped to provide motorist assistance. During that assist, which started around midnight, it was determined that Woolsey was in possession of over 1 gram of cocaine.
Woolsey was arrested and transported without incident to Hopkins County Jail. Her Cadillac was impounded.
This is not the first time Woolsey has been in Hopkins County Jail. In 2019 Woolsey faced a Driving While Intoxicated charge in Hopkins County.
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.
Moreland Back in Hopkins County Jail
April 12, 2023 – Hadden Dewayne Moreland, a 22 year-old resident of Quitman, TX, was arrested this week for violation of parole. The stems from an Assault Family Violence, Impeding Breathing charge.
Moreland, who lists himself as unemployed, was arrested at his home by Deputies and transported to Hopkins County jail without incident. The arrest occurred at around 3AM. His bond is set at $250,000.
This is not the first time Moreland has been in Hopkins County Jail. In 2021 Moreland was arrest for insufficient bond on a Assault Family Member, Impeding Breathing charge. See that story here.
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.
Mike Lamb Accepts His Official Resignation From SSISD
April 12, 2023- Mike Lamb, the superintendent who has been in charge of SSISD for the past eleven years, has officially accepted his resignation. He was presented a plaque by the school board in commemoration of his time spent at SSISD.
Recently Mike Lamb accepted a top position at Little Elm ISD. Little Elm has agreed to allow Mr. Lamb to split his time between the two districts through April. Lamb has also stated he will be a part of senior activities as well as being apart of graduation.
To read more on Mike Lamb’s resignation read: SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb Leaves To Take New Job in Little Elm
Meal A Day And Senior Citizen Center Calendar April 17-21, 2023
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for the week of April 17-21, 2023 includes:
Monday, April 17- Shepard’s Pie, Cucumber Slices and Chips
Tuesday, April 18- Chimichurri Chicken Drums, Cucumber Salad and a roll
Wednesday, April 19- Hawaiian Ham, White Rice and Mixed Veggies
Thursday, April 20- Sausage and Cheese Egg Bake, Sweet Potato Hash and Raisin Bran Muffin
Friday, April 21- Bean and Cheese Tamales, Refried Beans and Spanish Rice
Tree Roots By Mario Villarino
Metsulfuron-methyl is a residual sulfonylurea herbicide that kills broadleaf weeds and some annual grasses. It is a systemic compound with foliar and soil activity, that inhibits cell division in shoots and roots. It has residual activity in soils, allowing it to be used infrequently but requiring up to 22 months before planting certain crops (sunflowers, flax, corn, or safflower). It has very low toxicity to mammals, birds, fish, and insects, but is a moderate eye irritant. Metsulfuron is currently sold under several comercial names. It is an affordable option to control broadleaf plants and some weed grasses.The most important step in pesticide application is to read the label in its entirety before beginning any application. In most cases, off-target damage from herbicide use can be completely avoided by following the manufacturer’s label. It is important not only to use a herbicide with the correct concentration of the correct active ingredient, but also the one labeled for a specific crop or site. For example, Nufarm’s Manor® and PurestandTM both contain 60% of metsulfuron-methyl, but the former is labeled for turfgrass and the latter for pastures. Thus, applying PurestandTM to turf would be an off-label use. Not all metsulfuron herbicides labeled for turf are registered in CDMS. A web-wide search can yield equally suitable products (including generic options), like MSM Turf Herbicide Quali-Pro or Rometsol® by Rotam.Injury to not target plants from herbicide use is often simply a case of over application; therefore, it is always important to calibrate your equipment properly. Merely mixing the correct amount of product into a spray tank does not mean your equipment is calibrated. It is important to apply the correct amount of product per area and not to rely on the concentration of the spray solution. To reduce the chances of injury from drift, avoid making applications during periods of high temperature and low relative humidity. Never spray during windy conditions. Using nozzles that form larger droplet sizes and conducting applications at lower spray pressures can also help to reduce drift.
When metsulfuron-methyl injury has been reported, damage from drift or over-application (off-label) are often ruled out and injury is usually the result of root uptake. To avoid damage from root uptake, trees and shrubs should not be planted in areas treated with metsulfuron-methyl for at least one year after the last application and bedding plants should not be planted for at least two years. Never rinse out spraying equipment or flush hoses near desirable plants. According to most label instructions, metsulfuron-methyl should not be applied near desirable ornamental trees or shrubs, on areas where their roots may extend, or in locations where the herbicide may be washed or moved into contact with their roots.
How do you determine how far tree roots extend? This is difficult to determine because it is species dependent. A general rule of thumb is that for established trees, the roots are likely to extend up to two or more times the width of the branches (drip line). Research at the University of Florida has shown that on average, tree roots spread close to three times the spread of the drip line and fine roots are concentrated in the top 12 inches of soil with many in the top 2 inches (Gilman 2011). For large palms, primary roots are often found 50 feet or more away from the trunk. This means that just because the herbicide is not applied near the base of the plant does not mean that roots will not be contacted by metsulfuron-methyl or other similar herbicides. In practice, as per the label instructions, many residential lawns should not be treated with this herbicide because they are filled with tree roots Metsulfuron is a very effective and economical herbicide that has low odor, low usage rates, a short restricted entry interval (REI) of only 4 hours, and is safe on Bermudagrass, St. Augustine grass, and other warm season turfgrasses. It is one of the few herbicides available to selectively control bahiagrass in other lawn types and also controls other broadleaf weeds that are often difficult to manage. However, caution should be used when applications are made on sites containing trees and palms growing in or near turf areas, especially sites where oak trees are planted. Metsulfuron-methyl is effective for weed control at low usage rates and the lowest effective rate should be chosen for the target weed species. For a given species, a lower rate will be effective when the weeds are still small, less than 4 inches tall (McAfee and Baumann 2007). As per the manufacturer label, do not apply metsulfuron-methyl-containing products in close proximity to ornamental species or in areas where their roots can be contacted. In landscapes containing many trees, palms, and shrubs, it will be difficult to avoid making applications over the root zone of potentially sensitive plants. In these cases, a different herbicide should be selected to avoid potential injury in certain situations. If injury has already occurred, recovery time will be based on numerous factors and is difficult to predict. The most effective corrective measure, if any is available, should be determined on a case by case basis depending on the species effected, application rate, time of year, and other environmental factors. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Incorporating Dike Townhall With Municipal Attorney Charlie Zeck
April 11, 2023- Municipal Attorney Charlie Zeck will be at the Dike community center Saturday April 15th to discuss Incorporating Dike.
Topics will include:
- CONTINUATION OF ALL COUNTY SERVICES
- CLARIFICATION OF NO PROPERTY TAX
- DESCRIPTION OF A CLASS-C MUNICIPALITY
Open for Q&A – send questions to [email protected]
POLLINATOR GARDEN PLANTING • EARTH DAY 2023
APRIL 22nd – 10am-1pm – Lunch Provided – Free Community Event
CraversTX Community Garden will be planting their FOURTH pollinator habitat in Sulphur Springs! Our event is in partnership with Pollinator.org and will also be a new way station for Monarchs.
A Monarch Waystation is an intentionally-managed garden that provides food and habitat for the struggling Monarch butterfly population. As a rule, a waystation must include at least 2 types of Milkweed, the ‘host’ plant for Monarchs.
Join us in the garden for a picnic lunch and planting. We have everything you need: gloves, native TX plants, Earth Day Crafts, etc. If you would like to volunteer, email them at [email protected]
The Community Garden is located at 420 W Park St in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Information From the Welding Program at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
STRUCTURAL WELDING
La’Den Tice works on a structural welding project in his class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center welding shop. To learn more about the welding program and enrollment procedure, call Instructor John Plemons at 903-885-1232.–
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.
