Notable Updates To Sulphur Springs ISD Handbooks, Policies
District Committee Auditing And Updating District Safety & Security Plan
By now, most parents have already sign form acknowledging they’ve received and will require their students to abide by the policies and procedures listed in their student handbooks, Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan.
Those who have more than one student may not have taken the time to flip through to see what, if any, changes have been made to handbooks this year. To help out, below is a brief update on some of the major policy updates, as reported by SSISD administrators.
Handbook Updates, Changes
Middle School
Assistant Superintendent over Secondary Education Justin Cowart reported very similar changes were made updating information in the Middle School student handbook.
Policies regarding tardies and homework were updated to be more specific on consequences for a third tardy and homework policies.
Homework may be assigned to learn skills and practices, but teachers are encouraged to limit it as much as possible.
The grading policy too was updated to allow for discretionary grading for mastery of a subject, not just whether a student got the question right or wrong; it allows some flexibility.
The SSMS dress code was updated to to reflect the high school policy allowing two piercings of the face and nose, Cowart noted.
High School
“Like Mr. Cowart said, in exactly the same language, it allows up to two additional facial piercings, in addition to earrings there,” SSHS Principal Josh Williams said of the high school dress code policy regarding piercings.
“I disagree with the addition of two additional facial piercings. I just want to say I disagree with the additional,” SSISD Trustee John Prickette said during the Aug. 8 meeting when the handbook updates were presented. “I think it’s going to be a distraction to the learning environment and I think the policy that we had in place prior to this change minimized distractions in the classroom.”
Williams noted SSHS handbook also requires specific instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence, sex trafficking. Before a student receives instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence and sex trafficking, the district must obtain written consent from the student’s parent. Parents will be sent a request for written consent at least 14 days before the instruction can be given. (See pages 34-36 in SSHS Student Handbook)
Students will be allowed to receive food deliveries at the high school this year, a policy reflected in the 2022-2023 Student Handbook. This year, in addition to receiving deliveries from parents and guardians, students will be allowed to receive food from licensed restaurants or food delivery services.
“It they want to have someone deliver their lunch and put it on the table, they can put it on the table. We are fine with that, and it supports local industry,” Williams said.
“They can DoorDash at High School?” SSISD Trustee Robbin Vaughn asked.
“Yep, there’s a table. They come in, they put it down and we don’t mess with it. They have to know it’s coming and come and get it. They don’t interrupt class. It’s been happening anyway, might as well write it down,” Williams said.
“We will have the safety and security protocols?” Prickette asked.
“Yes, they will have to ring the bell: ‘Who is it?’ ‘This is Door Dash, with a delivery for Johnny Smith.’ ‘OK, put it right on the table.’ We can see them there on the camera, they put and they leave. It’s right there by the door,” Williams said.
The SSHS Student Handbook also specifies the requirements for early release and later arrival — what it takes for a junior or senior. Juniors can have up to one period, and seniors up to two periods of early release or later arrival, based on passing course exams, no more than 5 unexcused absences, be on track to earn college and career readiness points, no more than two days in ISS and are forced to earn an endorsement in a program of study.
“We’re not going to let them not go to class and not capitalize on what class can offer them,” Williams said.
Prickette asked if administrators looked back to see how many that policy would have impacted in prior years.
“No, I have no idea how many. I know that a lot of kid are getting it in their schedules, as they want it” Williams acknowledged. “It just basically holds a line on them to come to school, don’t get in trouble, succeed academically. I don’t have the numbers.”
One significant policy change that high school students and parents should make note of, Williams said, has to do with late work. The handbook defines late work as “any assignment that is not turned in during the student’s scheduled class period, at the time the teacher designates, on the day on which the assignment is due, if the student is in class. Late work turned in late will result in a 30-point deduction. Late work will be accepted for up to 3 school days, no longer. After 3 days, the assignment will be scored a zero and it can no longer be made up for credit. The teacher has the discretion to act in the best interest of the student in extenuating circumstances.”
As an example, Williams said, Johnny arrives Monday without his algebra assignment. The teacher would put a 0 in the grade book immediately, and the student would have 3 days to make it up at a 30% deduction on the grade. If not made up after 3 days, the 0 stands. Putting the 0 in the gradebook immediately lets the students’ parents, coaches and activity sponsors know about it immediately.
However, at the end of class, Johnny tells his teacher they had to take his grandmother to the emergency room the night before. He realizes he should not have waited so long to do his homework, but they were at the hospital with grandma until 2 a.m. The teacher would have the discretion to make a decision in keeping with the policy for his late work.
“We are also going to increase the availability of and knowledge of our tutorials after school. So, if students aren’t doing their work, we will literally sit down and help them do their work. One of the things we heard, especially at the high school level, in surveys done last year as we sat down and talked to team leaders there was students going day after day week after week without turning in their things, defeating the purpose of the assignment in the first place,” Williams said.
“The rest of the story is, this is a cumulative problem. We debate three days, five days, seven days. It’s three school days by the way, not just three days. Other assignments are happening., If you get behind, it’s harder to get caught up if you get behind anyway. We want to teach our kids to perform on a deadline. We want to have the grace to account for real life circumstances. We want to have the grace to account for when they don’t have these circumstances, but they are going to pay a penalty, and at some point, grade-wise we are going to move on from late work,” Williams said.
Prickette asked how a student being out of class for a UIL activity such as a tennis tournament or band competition, drill team or spelling contest would be factored in the late work policy.
Williams said that would not be a school-related absence and the student would not be considered absent. The handbook is unchanged in this area. Those students with school-related absences should find out what assignments they will be missing in advance, in order to be prepared. A student who returns to school Tuesday, after being out of class on Monday for a school activity, but hasn’t completed the assignment because they did not receive the instruction and aren’t sure how to do it won’t be penalized. The work isn’t late on Tuesday, the student has 2 days. After that, they’d have the standard 3 days to get it in.
SSHS is striving this year to organize better and communicate better with families, and get the students the extra help they need for their work, including staying after school to offer tutorials for students. Williams will be among those staying offering tutorials in math.
Elementary
The SSISD 2022-2023 Elementary Student Handbooks had minimal changes this year, Sulphur Springs ISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Learner Services Jeremy Lopez reported earlier this month.
These handbooks for all students attending classes from pre-school through fifth grade have been updated to reflect recent principal changes, other pertinent information and safety protocols related to COVID as they apply to the 2022-2023 school year
Elementary students from fifth grade down will not be allowed to have body or facial piercings, according to Lopez.
To view a student handbook for any grade level, click here.
SSISD Safe Return To School, Safety Plans, Employee Handbooks
Employee Handbooks, Code of Conduct
Cowart reported that the SSISD employee handbooks have few local changes from last year. Administrators went through the document this summer, updated dates and names for various contacts. The district updates the document as TASB provides additional guidance regarding new or updated state and federal laws.
Administrators also reported there were not substantive changes to the Code of Conduct presented and approved by trustees on Aug. 8, 2022.
Return To School Plan
SSISD State and Federal Programs Coordinator Jason Evans reported the district’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan is the same as when it was put in place on Jan. 7, 2022.
“It is the safety protocols for returning to school in a COVID era and dealing with the notifications of COVID positives within the school district,” Evans noted.
The only change to the plan was the name of the district administrator responsible for notifications and overseeing plan administration; instead of Josh Williams’s name and number, Jason Evans now is listed as the contact person.
In order to receive certain COVID relief funds (ESSER), the district must have the return plan in place. (For a break down of the district’s planned use of the funding, click here. Click here for additional information about ESSER funding allocated to SSISD.)
The Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan may be viewed by clicking the COVID-19 Information link on the front page of the district website, ssisd.net, then clicking on the Plan title. This provides information families should refer to if their child become sick, especially if the student has been exposed to or exhibits symptoms of COVID.
Safety & Security Updates
Superintendent Michael Lamb said the district is working to improve safety and security at all campuses. A SSISD Safety & Security Committee made up of representatives from county and city emergency management, Sulphur Springs Police Department and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, the school board president and one other board member, SSISD Chief of Police and another school safety officer, a classroom teacher, and parent/guardian of a student enrolled at SSISD to help improve safety and security levels. Josh Williams has served on the committee as assistant superintendent, but since he has opted to return to SSHS to serve as principal, Lamb now serves in place of Williams on the committee.
SSISD Police Officer Dee Dee Self, who was in charge of safety and security aspects, has resigned her position with the school district. So, the district is transitioning those duties to Patrick Leber, who was approved in March to join the SSISD Police Department as a campus officer at Barbara Bush Primary. Prior to that, Leber served the community full time as as lieutenant at Sulphur Springs Police Department.
“He’s done lots of these safety plans and we are thrilled to have him, and have him doing them,” Lamb noted. “Josh [Williams] and Dee Dee and this committee have done great work for the last three years and have done a lot of work to get us to audit how safe we are. We’ve got plans for every campus.”
The Safety and Security Committee met on May 26 and Aug. 2, and is scheduled to meet again next week. Committee members review and continue reviewing SSISD safety plans and active threat plans for each campus. On Aug. 8, the Committee had begun conducting Summer Targeted Safety Audits and Exterior Door Safety Audits on all SSISD campuses, Lamb reported.
Lamb said the state requires someone from the city or county emergency operations to be involved in the process. He is thrilled to report that not only does SSISD have emergency operations from both the city and county, but usually two from each, participating.
“My biggest point right now is that our city and county officers have come forward to be tremendously helpful in all this. They have met with us several times,” Lamb said, noting a forum was held Aug. 8, 2022, at the Civic Center.
Lamb noted the Aug. 8 meeting was attended by about 45 individuals, including the sheriff and chief of police, and several parents to ensure the district achieves all of the required goals to ensure safety and security of students, staff and visitors to the schools.
Over a period of a month there will be “lots of safety and security activity” going on, “good store that we need to do and should do,” Lamb said. During that time, members of the team will be going around, shaking and checking every exterior door in the district. They must provide very extensive data in their audit of the doors, including checking interior doors. Ongoing throughout the month and into the start of the school year will be going over all campus staff, including substitutes, are trained on safety procedures specific to their campus, ensuring all threat assessment team members are trained and updating of access control procedures as needed. Also being reviewed at each campus are visitor check-in procedures at each campus, a multi-hazard operations plan. Lamb said during the initial survey, one door issue was identified to address.
“That’s the point of it. That’s why we’re going it, and it’s been good for us,” Lamb said. “There will be some things come out of it that we need to fix, some things we need to change, actually some policy I’ll ask you to change based on safety and security.”
Paris Junior College Holding Saturday Registration, Open House Events
Paris Junior College
Public Information Services
PJC holding Saturday registration, Open House events
To accommodate working students, all locations of Paris Junior College will be open for special Saturday registration from 10 a.m. to noon on August 20. In Paris, that will take place at the Rheudasil Learning Center (library).
The college will also hold special Open Houses at each location from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to introduce students to workforce program faculty. This is an opportunity to ask one-on-one questions about PJC’s 75 programs and what students may expect from their training.
Each Open House will also offer free hot dogs and drinks, and will take place at:
• PJC-Greenville Center, Tuesday, August 23, 6500 Monty Stratton Parkway, Greenville
• PJC-Sulphur Springs Center, Wednesday, August 24, 1137 Loop 301 East, Sulphur Springs
• PJC Student Center Ballroom, Thursday, August 25, 2400 Clarksville Street, Paris
Both Fall 1 Eight-Week and Fall 16-Week classes start Monday, August 29. The shift of most PJC classes to eight weeks is expected to boost student success, allow for greater schedule flexibility for parents and those working full-time, and increase graduation rates.
Qualifying full-time students will also receive free laptops. To qualify, students must take at least 12 hours with nine of those hours comprised of in-person classes in the fall semester. They must also have paid for classes or have begun a payment plan. The college will send email notifications to those who have qualified during the first week of classes.To get started at PJC, email [email protected], apply online at www.parisjc.edu/apply, or call 903-782-0425 in Paris, 903-454-9333 in Greenville, or 903-885-1232 in Sulphur Springs.
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.
North Hopkins ISD Invites Community To Attend Rachel’s Challenge Event
North Hopkins ISD will be hosting a community event, Rachel’s Challenge presentation, at 6 p.m. August 24, 2022, in the school gym.
“We will have a guest speaker from Rachel’s Challenge here to provide an uplifting and positive message based upon the premise of Rachel’s Challenge. This is open to all members of the North Hopkins ISD community,” notes North Hopkins ISD Superintendent Brian Lowe.
Rachel’s Challenge continues the dream of Rachel Joy Scott, who died in the Columbine School shootings on April 20, 1999. Scott dreamed of changing the world with kindness and compassion, and had already begun doing that at her school, one student and act at a time. That dream didn’t die with her. Her family and friends embraced Rachel’s dream, establishing Rachel’s Challenge, which continues 23 years after her death.
Rachel’s Challenge is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization dedicated to creating positive school cultures and ending school violence in all its forms by modeling positive interaction, and inviting people to see themselves and each other differently.
A representative from Rachel’s Challenge will be on hand at the school on next Wednesday night, with a presentation of little things that all can do daily to make the world a better place, as Rachel Joy Scott did and envisioned.
For additional information about the organization and Rachel, visit Rachel’sChallenge.org. for additional information about the NHISD Aug. 24 program, contact NHISD.
Recalled: 5,760 Cases Of Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink
Before you pack your kids’ lunches or send them out to play with a juice drink pack, be sure any Capri Sun products you’re distributing aren’t among the 5,760 cases of cherry flavored juice drink blend recalled by Kraft Heinz.
Only the Capri Sun Wild Cherry flavored juice drink blend beverages with a June 25, 2023, “Best When Used By “date on them were affected.
According to recall release from Kraft Heinz and the FDA, several consumer complaints about the taste of the product lead to discovery that diluted cleaning solution used on food processing equipment was inadvertently introduced into a production line at one of the company’s factories.
“The Company is actively working with retail partners and distributors to remove potentially impacted product from circulation,” according to the recall notice.
Consumers who purchased these items should not consume the product and can return it to the store where it was purchased. Consumers can contact Kraft Heinz from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, at 1-800-280-8252 to see if a product is part of the recall and to receive reimbursement.
| Size | Product Name | Packaging Description | Code On Pouch | Code on Carton | Carton UPC | Case UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 FL OZ | Capri Sun Wild Cherry Flavored Juice Drink Blend | Individual foil pouches packed in paperboard cartons. (Note: Cases shipped to retailers include 4 cartons that are shrink-wrapped together. Product is sold by the carton at retail.) | 25JUN2023 WXX LYY #### (Note: #### would be between 0733-0900 for product affected by this issue. XX may be 01, 02, 03, 04, 09, or 10. YY may be 01 through 12. | 25JUN2023 WXX #### CT1404. (Note: #### would be between 0733-1000 for product affected by this issue. XX may be 01, 02, or 03.) | 0 8768400100 4 | 87684 00409 00 |
Minor Changes To SSISD Policy Should Make Qualifying For Extended Leave A Little Easier
Minor changes to two local policies should make qualifying for extended leave a little easier, should employees have cause to need it, Sulphur Springs ISD administrators told trustees when presenting the recommended changes for approval this week.
SSISD Assistant Superintendent Lisa Robinson noted Aug. 15, 2022, that DMA and DEC were the two local policies administrators had pulled out of the Texas Association of School Boards Policy Services Localized Policy Manual Update 119, which trustees approved at their regular Aug. 8 meeting, for further review before submitting them for approval.
DEC (Local)
SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb noted DEC(Local) consists of two parts which and asked them to approve changes to two words.
“There’s two different parts in one policy that we think we can make some changes to that will relieve some pressure on our employees, if a COVID situation were to come back, if sub situations were come back. This is just our effort to hear from them and reach out and help,” Lamb said, noting he’d sent the trustees some data for the items being recommended.
Lamb said administrators frequently are told SSISD is the only school they know of that charges for a sub in a leave policy. A survey of 30 schools showed that to be true; none of those reviewed charge for a substitute.
“We would like to change that from saying yes to us charging for a sub to a no, which would put us in line with every other school we were able to look up,” Lamb said.
Trustees agreed to remove “the average daily rate of pay of a substitute for the employee’s position shall be deducted for each day of local leave taken, whether or not a substitute is employed” from DEC local.
The second recommended change to DEC (Local) had to do with extended leave. He said a survey of other school showed varied policies.
“The way our works is for up to 30 days you can, under special circumstances, you can get some leave, but you have to have been absent five times before that. We felt like it caused people if they were going to be three, they went ahead and stayed home two more just to qualify. So we’d like to change that from five to three days just to ease that up a little bit, make it a little more user friendly,” Lamb said.
Of the schools surveyed, some give 30 days, some 20, others 15, 10. A few schools have no limit at all. Half of the schools surveyed don’t offer it at all, but do have a sick bank or sick pool. SSISD has talked about the possibility of a sick pool but has not had one. Having a sick bank or pool would require a committee to decide what is and is not worthy, which would make it more difficult to keep things fair and more equal among employees.
“So, just to have some clarity, switching for 5 to 3 days, allows them to access 30 days extended leave?” SSISD Trustee Jason Dietze asked.
Lamb affirmed, this would allow the employee to become eligible for extended leave under extenuating circumstances two days sooner.
“It would have to be FMLA qualified then we do deduct sub rate for those 30 days, but they don’t have to have five first,” SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw clarified.
“But the school district tracks the FMLA; it’s 12 weeks annually?” Trustee John Prickette asked.
McGraw affirmed they would send a packet to the employee to get needed information for FMLA.
DMA (Local)
Robinson noted that the recommended update for DMA (Local) policy removed any reference to the existing exchange time policy.
“We realized that what’s now in here with the new recommended wording for DMA (Local) for our professional development policy needed to have some old wording still cleaned out of it that pertained to exchange time and practices that we no longer use because we’ve imbedded our professional development during the contract year for our teachers,” Robinson explained. “This policy now is very cleaned up; it’s very short. The way that it’s recommended for now according to what called for in Senate Bill 1267 is that once this is approved, we will annually present to you our professional development plan for the district. All of the details of our plan won’t exist in the policy, it will exist in the plan that accompanies that.”
Robinson said with board approval on Aug. 18, administrators will draft using “clearinghouse recommendations” a schedule of the professional development that are being done this year, which will be presented to the trustees at the next regular school board meeting.
Additional Policy Updates
The school trustees approved both policy changes a recommended, on Aug. 15, 2022. The trustees also approved on Aug. 8 as presented Policy Update 119, which included 51 legal policies and 8 legal policies, minus DEC and DMA local. Josh Williams, who was transitioning from Assistant Superintendent back to the high school to serve as campus principal, presented the policies for board review and gave a brief overview of notable changes in July.
Other Action Items
Trustees also at the special Aug. 15 board meeting opted to renew the district’s contract with TPS for property/casualty insurance for 2022-2023, even with a 25% increase in premium. McGraw noted the district has been with Offenhauser for 21 years, but has had different carriers. The current is TPS, and it was TAPS before that. She said it might be worth going out for bids next year.
She said that seemed high to her too, so she had TPS representatives stop by explain the big jump in cost. Essentially, she learned that the increase is due to some big claims over the last 5 years, which is what the rate is based on. This factors in the 2018-2019 hail damage claims to repair roofs, which is projected to be $2 million more as a recent survey of district facilities revealed one elementary campus that had damages. The amount is added to year of damage, not year it’s reported. The rate also factors in damages from the ice storm 2 years ago, which totaled about $643,000.
An increase in property values also helped drive the insurance premium up as the replacement value insurance would have to pay rose from about $159 million to about $172 million. That 8.3% increase in property values drove the rate up 18%, and the $2 million in additional claims drove it up even more.
If SSISD can keep claims low for three consecutive years, some of these claims will roll off, which in turn should drop the premium rate some,
She said one other option to consider for property/casualty insurance is TASB, the largest to offer the service. However, that also requires the district to also transfer their workers comp fund to them as well. TPS is the second largest group to offer the service.
Personnel
SSISD school board at the Aug. 15 meeting also approved as recommended by administrators one resignation and three new hires.
Janelle Safford is the new director of instructional technology. Jada Goodson and Denise Luna were hired as special education aides; Goodson will work at Middle School and Luna at Sulphur Springs Elementary.
Christine Rogers’ resignation as a fourth grade special education teacher at SSES was also accepted by trustees at the special 4 p.m. board meeting on Aug. 15, 2022.
Creative Arts Contest Features Works Of Multi-Talented Hopkins County Residents
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Hopkins County Family & Community Health Agent, [email protected]
The Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest is one of the premier events of the annual Fall Festival. With multi-talented individuals who enter one or more items to be judged, combined with a large group of volunteers to staff the event, and topped off with highly qualified trained individuals to judge the entries, the Creative Arts contest is a sight to behold!
As a word of explanation, this is a totally separate event from the Arts & Crafts Show (more on that later). This is a contest, similar to the State Fair of Texas Creative Arts contest (but on a slightly smaller scale). The contest will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center, October 20-22, 2022. Due to space limitations, entrants must be from Hopkins County, but anyone is welcome to visit the event during public viewing. Professional exhibits will not be allowed (example: professional photos, professional floral arrangements, etc.) Below are some additional guidelines:
- Articles must have been made within the past year (September, 2021 through October, 2022.)
- Items may be entered at the high school Conference Center Thursday, October 20 between 4:30 and 6 p.m., or Friday, October 21 between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. No entries will be accepted after that time unless approved by the registration committee. If these times are not possible for the individual, items may be taken to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office Monday, 1200 West Houston, Sulphur Springs, October 17 through Wednesday, October 19, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Age divisions are: Children (ages 10 and under); Youth (ages 11-19); Adults (ages 20-69); and Mature Adults (ages 70 and up). We also have an assisted living and nursing home division.
- Entries must use labels provided at registration.
- Judging of entries will take place on Friday, October 21, beginning at 10 a.m. Each entry will be awarded a ribbon based on merit. Best of Show and Reserve Best of Show will be selected from blue ribbon winners in each division.
- Items will be on display to the public following judging on Friday, October 21 until 5 p.m. and on Saturday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check-out begins at 1:30 p.m. Items should be picked up by 2:30 p.m.
- Best of Show and Reserve Best of Show recipient pictures will be taken at 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Center on Saturday, October 22. Winners will not be contacted, so please check your entries for ribbons and make plans to be there!
- The Creative Arts Committee is not responsible for any damage that may occur during public viewing times. However, volunteer staff will be on hand at all times to keep watch on the exhibits.
Entry categories are: Art, Baked Goods, Clothing Construction, Creative Crafts, Decorated Crafts, Food Preservation, Handiwork, Holiday-Seasonal, Horticulture, Photography, Quilts, and Woodworking. There are several classes for each category, and individuals may enter as many classes as desired.
Entry fee is only $1 per adult to help defray expenses. Children and students will not be charged. Contact my office at 903-885-3443 for a full list of categories and make plans to enter the 2022 Creative Arts Contest!
Closing Thought
Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.
– Mother Teresa
Contact Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for Family & Community Health Agent, at the Hopkins County Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected].
Aug. 17, 2022 Chamber Connection – 70 Entries Already Registered For Stew Contest
Ribeye Roundup Entry Deadline Is Sept. 1; This Year’s Event Features Junior Cook Category For Ages 7-17 Years
By Butch Burney, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO,
Registration for the 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, have been pouring in. We already have almost 70 entries with more than a month to go before the deadline.
To register, go online to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks, email [email protected] or call 903-885-6515. The cost to enter is $100 per stew pot, with $150 coming from the sponsor to pay for ingredients.
Register now to reserve your spot from last year.
This year, stew cooks can also pre-order a T-shirt with “Stew Cook” on the back for $15.
We also are taking applications for our vendor market at the stew. Cost is $75 for Chamber members, $100 for nonmembers. Go to our website at HopkinsChamber.org or call Amanda at 903-885-6515 to register.
We still have a few sponsorship opportunities available as well.
Photography Contest
It’s time once again for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual photography contest!
The photography contest is open to anyone who resides in Hopkins County. We have seven categories: Natural World, Travel, Family and People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children (for photographers up to 18 years of age).
Photographs must have been taken in Hopkins County no earlier than Jan. 1, 2021.
See the rules on our website, HopkinsChamber.org. You can also upload your photos to our website to enter. The deadline to enter is Aug. 31.
Ribeye Roundup
If you’re looking for a great steak, you don’t want to miss the Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup on Saturday, Oct. 1, on the downtown plaza.
The event features a steak cook-off which will include an expected 40-plus cook teams, educational trade show, free Bobby Irwin concert and more.
Cooks have until Sept. 1 to get their entry forms in, and this year there will be a junior cook classification for youth ages 7-17. Go to the Facebook page to learn more.
You can also get a blue Ribeye Roundup T-shirt for just $14 at the Chamber of Commerce, 110 Main St. Come by to pick one up!
Guest Brunch
The Hopkins County Historical Society will host free brunch on Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Winniford Building in Heritage Park, beginning at 10 a.m., with special guests Carol Burnett (Enola Gay) emceeing, along with portrayals of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Minnie Pearl, Rosie the Riveter, Jane Austen, Loretta Lynn, Dollie Parton, Mary Poppins and Raggedy Ann.
Donations will be accepted.
Quilt Show
The 21st Annual Quilt Show, presented by the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild, is set for Sept. 23-24 at First Baptist Church’s The ROC. Admission is $5 per person (under 12 are free). It will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Lisa Erlandson, AQS certified appraiser of Quilted Textiles and historian, will be the special speaker. There will be more than 100 quilts along with door prizes and vendors. For more information, go to SulphurSpringsTxQuilts.com.
Ribbon Cutting
Hopkins County Abstract will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at their office at 441 Oak Ave. Please join us for this event.
August 22 Jury Panel Canceled
The jury panel summoned to appear at 1 p.m. August 22, 2022, for County Court of Law with Judge Clay Harrison has been canceled. Those summoned for jury service do not need to report for duty that day.
County Judge Presented Petition Asking For Election To Make Dike A Type C Incorporated City
The county judge was presented with a petition Monday asking him to call an election to let Dike residents determine whether to make the community at Type C incorporated city, as promised in prior meetings by Michael Pickens. Other Dike residents voiced their views on incorporation of Dike and the Dike solar facility.
Petition to Incorporate Dike
Residents and property owners in Dike community began researching the matter out of a desire to control what goes on in their community after they learned the Commissioners Court had approved tax incentives for a solar project planned in the Dike community.
When speaking up in Commissioners Court and a community meeting hosted by Engie and Hopkins County failed to achieve the goal of residents seeking to stop the solar project from coming to Dike, an attempt to get an injunction and other legal action also was sought. The Dike residents opposed to the solar company leasing private land and installing a solar facility in their community organized.
Initially, the Dike residents voices a hope to incorporate before construction of the solar project began, but were not able to do so. Michael Pickens, spokesperson for Save Dike from Solar, advised the Commissioners Court and County Judge in previous meetings recently that the residents in opposition to the solar facility were working on the requirements to make Dike an incorporate area, so that Dike residents have a say in decision-making that impacts their community.
During Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting, Kirk Reams read a letter drafted to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom, asking him to order an incorporation election, and appoint two election judges, and publish or post notice of the election as required, in accordance with Chapter 8 of Texas Government Code Chapter. He then presented the letter, along with a signed petition, and a map of the proposed area of Dike to be incorporated to the county judge.
Reams noted Dike community was settled in 1850 and initially named Booneville. The first US Post Office was established in 1890, with the first postmaster sworn in by President Benjamin Harrison. The community name was changed from Booneville to Dike after residents discovered another town in Texas already existed. A public school operated in Dike in 1905. Dike had six general stores, a blacksmith and two physicians by 1914. In 1985, Dike had three churches, a US Post Office, a camp and 170 residents.
Currently, Reams reports, Dike’s population falls between the requisite 201 inhabitants but less than 5,000. The map of incorporation charts 1.72 square miles, within which more than 201 but less than 2,000 inhabitants. He noted the petition presented to Newsom during the special 11 a.m. Commissioners Court session Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, contained signatures from more than the requisite 10% of qualified voters in Dike community, who reside within the incorporated area.
Reams then requested that the county judge order an incorporation election to be held as soon as legally practicable for Dike, which meets the requirements for a Type C City under the general laws of Texas. The request asks the judge to set a specific date and designate a place in the community for the election, then designate two election judges, one of whom would serve as presiding election judge. The letter petitioning for the incorporation election also asks that three names be added to the ballot for election to mayor and commissioners of Dike: Kirk Reams as mayor, and Betty Waters and Lucretia Pool as commissioners. The elected mayor and commissioners would serve until the first regular election for municipal officers could be held.
“At this time I’m going to present you with the papers that you need to incorporate Dike. This is a map of where the incorporation will be. Also, a map’s in here,” Reams said, and upon obtaining permission from Newsom handed the documents to him.
“It’s a good day for Dike, Texas. We are excited that we can uphold our community, and keep this trash solar out of our community. I don’t know what it is about you guys. You just won’t step back and look at what our point of view is. All y’all see is the money, that’s all you see,” Reams accused with a shake of his head.
He then asked Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley, if the money was budgeted, why the road he asked him three weeks ago to fix hasn’t been repaired, before retiring to his seat.
When presented with petitions such as the incorporation election, officially typically go through the process of making sure the document meets all terms as specified, then, take whatever steps legally follow.
Additional Related Comments
While several outspoken residents have addressed the court on various occasions regarding the planned solar facility and incorporation, not all Dike residents are opposed to the solar project nor are all in favor of incorporation.
Dike resident Michael Russell has lived in the area most of his life, and has served his country and community, first in the Marine Corps and for the last 10 years at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, working his way up from deputy to investigator. He made clear where he stands on the matter of incorporation of Dike.
“I do not agree with incorporating Dike. Nobody can enforce the laws without law enforcement out there. The sheriff’s office cannot go out there and enforce laws that are imposed by the city,” Russell said.
He said while some people are for it, he is completely against incorporating Dike. He also said he was never contacted by anyone about incorporation or to sign the petition presented to the judge Monday morning.
Russell also added that while some “want to dog Mr. Bartley” he thinks he and the Commissioners Court do a good job. He said he realizes there’s more to their jobs than maintaining roads, and understands that.
Dike resident resident Larry Argenbright, a retired Hopkins County Constable, noted that he and his family have been residents of Hopkins County for a long time. His family first settled in the area in the 1870s. His great-great-grandfather is buried in a cemetery in a pasture not far from his home. He was born in the clinic on the square.
“I’ve been here a while and I’m telling you this,” Argenbright said of the solar facility, “will destroy our community.”
Argenbright cited a decrease in property values and noise from inverters, of which he’s been told there will be 60-70, which make 85 decibels of noise. That noise, he said, will make Dike sound like it has a superhighway running through it.
“All I wanted to do when I retired, and I’ve met with this court many, many times, all I wanted to do is get over there and live, be left alone. Now, I’ve got health problems, probably because of y’all,” Argenbright said, addressing the Commissioners Court, “and had to have a pacemaker put in. All I want to do is live and be left alone, that’s all I’m asking: just leave me alone, please.”
FDA Finalizes Rule Improving Access To OTC Hearing Aids
More Affordable Hearing Aids For Those With Mild To Moderate Hearing Impairment Could Be In Stores As Soon As Mid-October
Today (Aug. 16, 2022), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to improve access to hearing aids which may in turn lower costs for millions of Americans. This action establishes a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, enabling consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment to purchase hearing aids directly from stores or online retailers without the need for a medical exam, prescription or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist.
The rule is expected to lower the cost of hearings aids, furthering the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of expanding access to high-quality health care and lowering health care costs for the American public. It is designed to assure the safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids, while fostering innovation and competition in the hearing aid technology marketplace.
Today’s action follows President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which called for the FDA to take steps to allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter and set a swift 120-day deadline for action, which the FDA met. In 2017, Congress passed bipartisan legislation requiring the FDA to create a category of OTC hearing aids, but it was not fully implemented until now. Consumers could see OTC hearing aids available in traditional retail and drug stores as soon as mid-October when the rule takes effect.
“Reducing health care costs in America has been a priority of mine since Day One and this rule is expected to help us achieve quality, affordable health care access for millions of Americans in need,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today’s action by the FDA represents a significant milestone in making hearing aids more cost-effective and accessible.”
Close to 30 million adults in the U.S. could benefit from hearing aid use. Individuals with permanent hearing impairment can use hearing aids to help make speech and sounds louder, improving the ability to communicate effectively with others. Many hearing aids can be expensive. The final rule aims to stimulate competition and facilitate the sale of safe and effective OTC hearing aids in traditional retail stores or online nationwide, providing consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss with improved access to devices that meet their needs and are less expensive than current options.
“Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Establishing this new regulatory category will allow people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online.”
The OTC category established in this final rule applies to certain air-conduction hearing aids intended for people 18 years of age and older who have perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment. Hearing aids that do not meet the requirements for the OTC category (for example, because they are intended for severe hearing impairment or users younger than age 18) are prescription devices.
The FDA finalized the rule after receiving and reviewing more than 1,000 public comments on the proposed rule issued on Oct. 20, 2021. Comments submitted by consumers, professional associations, hearing aid manufacturers, public health organizations and advocacy groups, members of Congress, state agencies, and other stakeholders are summarized in the final rule, along with the FDA’s respective responses. In response to public comments and to assure the safety and effectiveness of OTC hearing aids, the final rule incorporates several changes from the proposed rule, including lowering the maximum sound output to reduce the risk to hearing from over-amplification of sound, revising the insertion depth limit in the ear canal, requiring that all OTC hearing aids have a user-adjustable volume control, and simplifying the phrasing throughout the required device labeling to ensure it is easily understood. The final rule also includes performance specifications and device design requirements specific to OTC hearing aids.
Furthermore, today’s action correspondingly amends existing rules that apply to prescription hearing aids for consistency with the new OTC category, it repeals the conditions for sale for hearing aids, and it includes provisions that address some of the effects of the FDA OTC hearing aid regulations on state regulation of hearing aids.
Concurrently with issuing the final rule, the FDA also issued the final guidance, Regulatory Requirements for Hearing Aid Devices and Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs), to clarify the differences between hearing aids, which are medical devices, and PSAPs, consumer products that help people with normal hearing amplify sounds.
The effective date for the final rule is 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Manufacturers of hearing aids sold prior to the effective date of the final rule will have 240 days after its publication to comply with the new or revised requirements. For hearing aids that have not been offered for sale prior to the effective date, compliance with the new or revised requirements must be achieved before marketing the device, including obtaining 510(k) clearance if applicable.
