Paris Junior College LVN to RN Program Taking Applications
April 11, 2025 – The Paris Junior College LVN to RN nursing program is taking applications now through May 30, 2025, for the 2025-2026 class of students wishing to become registered nurses. The program often has a waiting list with high demand for nurses and strong community support.
“To be in the RN program you must have your license as either a licensed vocational nurse or licensed practical nurse,” said PJC Nursing Director Dwana Hollidai. “Many of our students are younger, but we have students who have been out in the community working as an LVN for many years who come back. We have a variety of backgrounds, ages, experience levels, and work locations, both men and women, and all ages as students.”
The first step to get started is to apply to PJC, be accepted, and receive a PJC email login and password. At that point, students can access the online LVN to RN Transition Nursing Program application.
“Students have to be very dedicated because it is a four-day-a-week program,” said Hollidai. “Some of our students still work to support their family and that’s very time intensive and academically harder. They need to have good study habits, and good time management skills.”
The LVN-to-RN program prepares nurses for entry-level positions integrating knowledge and skills to provide care to patients in a variety of health care settings. The program may be completed in 12 months (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters).
Resources are available to help students succeed.
“Each student is assigned a faculty mentor so if they’re struggling with an exam, they can meet with them and talk about what went wrong,” said Hollidai. “Good family support is very important, especially for those with small kids because students are only allowed to miss a certain number of days.”
The programs enjoy strong community support.
“Our students receive scholarships from the Roan Oak Masonic Lodge and the Paris Masonic Lodge,” Hollidai said. “There is a Lamar County health care scholarship and the general Memorial Foundation scholarship available to help all of our nursing students.”
Job prospects are bright because of high demand for trained nurses everywhere, retirement of the current nursing population, and a growing elderly population creating a rising need.
Program application requires documentation and a background check. That process should be started as soon as possible by calling the Health Occupations office at 903-782-0734. For more information on the program, email [email protected].
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.
Paris Junior College Presents 10th Annual Pyro PlayFest Starting April 23
April 11, 2025 – The Paris Junior College Drama Department is presenting the 10th Annual Pyro PlayFest, made up of new, never-before performed short plays fitting this year’s theme: “Where There is a Will, There is a Way!” Two nights will also feature a special fundraiser where the audience gets to interrupt an actor and make them eat spicy chicken. Limited seating is on stage to put the audience into the play, so reservations are required.
“This is a festival of fresh, innovative storytelling that sets the stage ablaze with new voices and groundbreaking theater,” said PlayFest Director and Drama faculty William L. Walker. “This highly anticipated event celebrates the power of creativity and showcases a collection of brand-new short plays written by playwrights from around the world. Directed and performed by a talented ensemble of student and community artists, the festival promises an unforgettable theatrical experience filled with thought-provoking dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, and bold, risk-taking storytelling.”
Two slates of plays will alternate on April 23-26 at 7:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on April 26-27, 2025, on the Duane Allen Stage in the Ray E. Karrer Theater.
Slate A has a run time of just under two hours and will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on April 23 and 25 and 2:00 p.m. on April 26. It includes: “Evening Student,” by Tim Wood; “A Little White X,” by Lisa Martin; “Abbott & Othello,” by Will Walker; “Over You,” by Mike Risinger; “Curs’d Be Macbeth,” by Jordan White; “Is That You, Kilgore Trout?” by Derek Dacus; “Tickle That Dragon,” by Amanda Blouin; and “Enter Three Murderers,” by Mike Risinger.
Slate B runs about an hour and forty minutes and will be performed at 7:00 p.m. on April 24 and 26 and 2:00 p.m. on April 27. It includes: “The Squatch of Avon,” by Ryan Smith; “Puppets Dallying,” by Brenna Mills; “Much Ado About Northingness,” by Hannah England; “Lab Coats,” by Lisa Martin; “Heroes in the Pages,” by Addi Brown; “Teddy Knows Too Much,” by Tim Wood; “A Dog (And His Two Gentlemen),” by Will Walker; and “Exit, Pursued by a Bear,” also by Walker.
The cast, which doubles as crew, includes Carlton Bell, Addison “Addi” Brown, Derek Dacus, Emma Davis, Hannah England, Kai Fornof, Collin Henson, Dalen Hobbs, Daisy Howe, TK McGee, Lisa Martin, Maegan Martinez, Brenna Mills, Mike Risinger, Daniel Sebastian, Ryan Smith, Sarah Stemen, Ollivia Stiles, Celia Stogner, Emilee Stowell, Libby Stowell, Teryn Wallace, Will Walker, and Jordan White. A special guest will play Ms. DNA in “Lab Coats,” and Winston the Wonder Corgi will play Crab in “A Dog (And His Two Gentlemen).”
The heat will also be cranked up for PJC Drama’s Pyro Nights, a scholarship fundraising event exclusively at the 7:00 p.m. performances on Friday and Saturday.
“On these two nights only,” said Walker, “audience members who have purchased special Pyro Tickets have the power to ring a bell during specific performances. When the bell rings, the actors onstage must eat a piece of fiery spicy chicken and continue performing through the heat — no matter what. Will they power through, or will the drama get even more intense? There’s only one way to find out!”
Each Pyro Ticket purchase directly supports Drama scholarships and helps to fuel the future of theater.
“We hope you’ll turn up the spice while supporting student artists and ensuring the continuation of bold, innovative performances for years to come,” said Walker. “When creativity sparks, anything is possible.”
Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 senior adults (65+) and high school students, and free for all PJC students, staff, and faculty. For additional ticket information and reservations, please email [email protected].
“We want to let our audience know in advance that the Pyro PlayFest features original works that may include adult language and situations similar to what you might encounter on primetime television,” Walker said. “While the content is engaging and thought-provoking, the festival is not designed for young children. We encourage parents and guardians to use discretion when considering attendance.”
PJC Drama is dedicated to fostering artistic excellence and providing a platform for emerging playwrights, performers, and directors. Through innovative productions and unique storytelling experiences, PJC Drama continues to engage, inspire, and entertain audiences year after year.
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.
Downtown Spring Market Looking Forward to Great Weather
April 11, 2025 – The annual Downtown Business Alliance Spring Market is looking forward to fantastic weather this Saturday, April 12 as the many vendors are ready to show off their goods during the one-day event. KSST Weather forecasts sunny skies with high temperatures in the upper 70’s with less than 5% chaince of rain. Main Street between Celebration Plaza and Davis Street will be closed to vehicular traffic as well as a portion of Gilmer Street up to Tomlinson St as vendors set up their booths to offer clothing, crafts, decor, food and gifts. The retailers along Main Street will have specials as well. The event has free admission and will be open from 9am until 4pm, Saturday only.
Texas Budget Poised to Pass with $1 Billion Funding Cap for School Vouchers
April 10, 2025 – The Texas Legislature is poised to pass a $337 billion two-year budget that includes a landmark $1 billion allocation for a school voucher program, marking a significant shift in the state’s education funding landscape.
Under the provisions of Senate Bill 2 and its House counterpart, House Bill 3, the state will establish Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) that provide families with public funds to support private or alternative educational choices. The Senate’s version offers a flat $10,000 per student, while the House plan ties the voucher amount to 85% of the average state and local per-student funding, estimated to be around $10,330 in the first year.
The program prioritizes students with disabilities and those from low-income families, with caps on participation to manage costs. However, critics express concerns about diverting public funds from traditional public schools, potential lack of oversight, and the risk of increased educational inequality.
Notably, the House budget passed without any amendments to block voucher funding, a departure from previous sessions where such measures were used to gauge support for school choice initiatives.
As the budget advances, the inclusion of $1 billion for school vouchers underscores the Legislature’s commitment to expanding educational options, while also highlighting the ongoing debate over the best use of public education funds in Texas.
Trash Talk
April 10, 2025 – By Julien Devereux – AUSTIN — If you’ve driven on Texas roads you may have seen soda bottles, shredded rubber from old tires, or maybe even something large like a mattress or washing machine.
It’s all litter and TxDOT works to clear it from the roadway.
Don’t mess with Texas means don’t litter. But even though the famous TxDOT campaign has helped reduce the amount of litter and debris on Texas roads since it launched in 1985, litter is still an issue.
TxDOT spends approximately $50 million every year clearing state roadways of trash.
What is litter and where does it come from?
Litter is any item that hasn’t been properly disposed of. TxDOT classifies roadside litter into two categories, “large litter” — any piece of trash that’s more than two inches long or wide—and “micro litter,” any piece of trash that’s smaller than that.
Most of the litter on Texas roads is large litter: beverage containers like water bottles and cans. Items discarded by motorists account for nearly half of all litter on the roads TxDOT maintains.
Even if something is compostable or recyclable it’s still litter if you don’t dispose of it properly. Throwing a banana peel or apple core on the side of the road is littering just as much as throwing a plastic bag or soda can. And recyclable containers, which comprise 38% of large litter on the roads, won’t be recycled unless they’re sent to a recycling center.
Everything that comes out of a vehicle, whether on purpose or not, accumulates at the side of our roads and can cause hazards for drivers, pedestrians, law enforcement and emergency workers. It can also cause harm to the environment—food thrown out of a car that lands on the side of the road can attract animals and put them in harm’s way, for instance—in addition to simply being an eyesore.
Although large litter like cans, garbage bags and even mattresses are more noticeable, one of Texas’s biggest sources of litter is “micro”: cigarette filters, which many people mistakenly believe are biodegradable, but aren’t.
Most cigarette filters are made from cellulose acetate, a plastic that takes about 15 years to decompose after being thrown to the side of the road. And that’s not even to mention the fire hazard that comes from tossing cigarettes out the window.
It might sound easy to simply not throw things out of your vehicle—and it is— but even people who don’t intend to litter sometimes do. Accidental littering happens when unsecured items fly out of vehicles, whether from the back of a truck bed or out of an open window.
It all adds up to approximately 362 million pieces of litter collecting on Texas roads every year. That’s more than 11 pieces of litter for every Texan, every year.
What can we do about it?
TxDOT road crews collect litter, and between 2013 and 2023 large litter on Texas roads decreased by 63%. But to eliminate litter in our beautiful state, we need you to join our team.
We can all do our part and not contribute to the litter problem. Carry a small bag in your car to put litter in and put it in the nearest trash can when you get to a gas station or your destination. And if you see litter or debris on the road as you’re driving, once you can safely do so you can report it online here: Report an issue.
If you drive a truck, make sure there’s nothing in the bed that could fly out and end up on the roadway. Unsecured items that become airborne can contribute to the litter problem, but they’re also a safety hazard. Plus, you can be fined up to $2,000 for littering if caught by law enforcement.
And if you want to make an even bigger impact in cleaning our roads, consider adopting a stretch of highway and keeping it clean through our Adopt-A-Highway program, or join your local Don’t mess with Texas Trash-off, held in April every year.
We’ve made great progress reducing the amount of litter on our roads, but with Texas’ growing population, the problem won’t go away without all Texans helping out.
To learn more about litter on Texas roadways and how you can help, visit the Don’t mess with Texas website.
Will Texas’s Anti Puppy Mill Bill Pass?
April 10, 2025 – In the 89th Texas Legislative Session, which began on January 14, 2025, the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) has prioritized the passage of the Ethical Pet Sales Bill. This proposed legislation aims to prohibit retail pet stores from selling commercially bred puppies and kittens, a measure intended to curb the influx of animals from large-scale, out-of-state breeding facilities commonly known as puppy mills.
The bill seeks to address concerns about the health and welfare of animals sourced from such facilities, as these puppies and kittens often arrive at pet stores with health issues due to inadequate breeding practices and long-distance transportation. By banning the retail sale of these animals, the legislation aims to protect consumers from unknowingly purchasing sick pets and to promote the adoption of animals from shelters and rescue organizations.
This initiative builds upon local ordinances already enacted in 18 Texas cities, including Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, which have implemented similar bans on the retail sale of puppies and kittens. The proposed statewide legislation seeks to create uniformity across Texas and prevent the opening of new pet stores that source animals from inhumane breeding operations.
Advocates of the bill emphasize its potential to disrupt the “puppy mill pipeline” into Texas, thereby improving animal welfare standards and safeguarding consumers from deceptive sales practices and unforeseen veterinary expenses. The THLN encourages Texans to support this legislation to ensure better protection for both animals and pet owners across the state.
Lake Country CASA Hosts Second Annual Derby Fundraiser on May 3, 2025
April 9, 2025 – Lake Country CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated Second Annual Derby Fundraiser, taking place on Saturday, May 3, 2025. This exciting event, inspired by the iconic Kentucky Derby, will be held at The Diamond at Star E Ranch and promises an unforgettable evening of entertainment, philanthropy, and community spirit.
Get your tickets by clicking here.
The Derby Fundraiser serves as a crucial initiative to support Lake Country CASA’s mission of advocating for abused and neglected children within the court system. Proceeds from the event will directly benefit CASA’s programs, ensuring that every child in need has a dedicated advocate fighting for their best interests.
Guests will enjoy an evening filled with classic Derby traditions, including live horse racing simulcast with raffles, a best-dressed contest, live music, and signature mint juleps. Attendees are encouraged to don their finest Derby attire—big hats, bow ties, and all—to fully embrace the spirit of the event.
“This fundraiser is more than just a celebration; it’s a chance for our community to come together in support of children who need a voice,” said Amy Glenn, Executive Director of Lake Country CASA. “Every ticket purchased, every raffle ticket purchased, and every donation made directly impacts a child’s future.”
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available now, with early reservations highly encouraged due to limited seating.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to become a sponsor, please visit www.lakecountrycasa.org or contact Lake Country CASA at 903-885-1173.
Join us on May 3, 2025, as we race towards a brighter future for children in need.
About Lake Country CASA: Lake Country CASA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing trained volunteer advocates for children in foster care. Our volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that every child has a safe, permanent, and loving home. Learn more at www.lakecountrycasa.org.
Some International Student VISAs Terminated in Texas
April 9, 2025 – The Trump-aligned White House has begun revoking the visas of international students at Texas universities, escalating a crackdown that has already affected at least 15 students in the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. Officials cite national security and campus safety as justifications, though critics argue the actions are politically motivated and overly punitive. One student reportedly lost their visa over a minor speeding ticket, raising concerns about selective enforcement and due process.
“Specifically, they are changing their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record from Active to Terminated, which essentially means they no longer have legal status in the U.S.” – Samantha Clement of the Texas A&M International Student & Scholar Services.
Senator Marco Rubio defended the move, stating, “If you apply for a student visa to come to the United States and you say you’re coming not just to study, but to participate in movements that vandalize universities, harass students, take over buildings and cause chaos, we’re not giving you that visa.” The decision comes amid rising tensions over pro-Palestinian protests and broader student activism, particularly on elite and state university campuses.
Immigration attorneys and civil rights groups are alarmed, arguing the administration is using immigration policy as a tool to suppress dissent and intimidate student protesters. Universities have so far remained largely silent, but pressure is mounting from faculty and advocacy groups demanding clarity and protection for affected students.
Paxton Announces Candidacy
April 8, 2025 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary. Paxton made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” positioning himself as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and a critic of the Republican establishment.
Paxton has enlisted Axiom Strategies, a prominent Republican consulting firm, to manage his campaign. This move indicates a potentially contentious and costly primary battle ahead.
Senator Cornyn, who has served since 2002, has faced criticism from within his party for his bipartisan efforts, including support for a 2022 gun control bill and reservations about Trump’s 2024 candidacy. Despite this, Cornyn’s campaign has defended his pro-Trump voting record and dismissed Paxton as a “fraud.”
Paxton’s candidacy introduces a significant challenge to Cornyn, highlighting the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party between establishment figures and those aligned with Trump’s agenda. The primary is expected to be fiercely contested and could have substantial implications for the party’s direction in Texas.
SSHS Lady Cats Took on Pittsburg in Softball Action April 7th in Mt. Vernon
April 8, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs High School Lady Cats competed against the Pittsburg Pirates in a game of softball on April 7, 2025. The two teams met up in Mount Vernon for this exciting game. Below is KSST’s coverage of this thrilling game. KSST’s Sports Director, John Mark Dempsey, and Tony Flippin called Play by Play and Color Commentary. Check out the fun action below!
