Paris Junior College fall Graduation Debuts Changes
December 26, 2024 – Nearly 370 students applied to graduate and more than 100 chose to walk across the stage at Paris Junior College. New this year were two ceremonies, and students sported green gowns as part of the College’s 100th anniversary celebration. Graduating students were also featured speakers this year.
“To each of you, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on earning your college degree or certificate. This accomplishment is a testament to your hard work, perseverance, and dedication throughout your time at Paris Junior College,” said PJC President, Dr. Stephen Benson. “You have been part of a community that prioritizes excellence in education, guided by an exceptional team of faculty and staff. The superior education you’ve received here has equipped you with knowledge and skills that will give you countless opportunities in the future.”
The first ceremony celebrated workforce students getting their certificates of completion or associate of applied science degrees. The second ceremony recognized students obtaining an associate of arts, associate of arts in teaching, or associate of science degree.
Joshua Scott, a fourth generation jeweler graduating from PJC’s horology (watchmaking) program, gave the address at the first ceremony.
“I travelled a thousand miles to come here to Paris Junior College,” said Scott. “It took me a while to get adjusted to this new life here, and if it weren’t for the power of community, I may not have received this opportunity to speak here. Many of the most successful and charismatic people that I know in my life have two things in common, that’s discipline and humor. I haven’t mastered either, but because of the people I’ve surrounded myself with during my time at Paris Junior College I will always strive to have the discipline to do what is right, not what is easy, and I will try to laugh a little more, because life is so much better when you’re having fun.”
The second student commencement speaker was Madison Sullivan, an allied health major who was an active member and officer with PJC’s Student Government Association.
“For most of my life I was scared to step out of my comfort zone. For me this is really stepping out of my comfort zone, but because of the lessons learned at PJC I stand before you here today,” said Sullivan.
She related how after many months of her parents’ insistance, she enrolled and began taking classes, but did not speak with anyone and tried to stay unnoticed.
“Then, Mr. Webb found me,” Sullivan said. “What a difference some people make in your life. He convinced me to come to a Student Government meeting. Getting involved, helping people, and making friends was the push I needed to succeed. My grades and confidence soared, and I knew I wanted to continue down this path in education.
“These opportunities have shaped us into the successful graduates we are today, to the workers, scholars, wives, husbands, fathers, and mothers we will become. We go into tomorrow better equipped than ever before.”
Allen Williams, President of the PJC Alumni and Friends Association, congratulated the graduates.
“You may not realize this yet, but you’ve just joined one of the oldest and one of the proudest community college alumni groups in the state of Texas,” said Williams, “and we’re very proud of you. This will change your life and I know that your family and friends are all very proud of you. Our organization extends to you our best wishes.”
Benson concluded with best wishes to the graduates.
“I encourage you to nurture the connections you’ve built during your journey here, cherish the friendships, partnerships and relationships you formed with your classmates, faculty, staff and the greater College community. As alumni, these bonds will remain an enduring part of your story,” said Dr. Benson. “Embrace the road ahead with the pride and spirit of a Paris Junior College Dragon. Congratulations, Class of 2024. Go forth and make your mark on the world!”
Despite rain, faculty and staff preceded the graduates outside, making two lines for the new alumni to pass through as they clapped and cheered for them.
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.
Demand For Live Christmas Trees Remained Strong
By Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife
Demand for Texas-grown Christmas trees continues to rise as acreage and entrepreneurial interest in farms expands, according to a Texas A&M Forest Service expert.
Fred Raley, Texas A&M Forest Service director of the Western Gulf Tree Improvement Program, said Texas Christmas tree producers fared well this year after back-to-back seasons of drought for much of the state. He said consumers should expect higher prices for choose-and-cut and shipped cut trees this holiday season.
“Demand is up, whether the previous seasons impacted supplies or supplies held steady, so there is a potential for price increases and limited selection,” he said. “The increased cost of shipping in fresh-cut trees from other states will also factor into prices.”
Growers, Farms Diversify Around Christmas Trees
Raley said the impact of drought depended on localized rainfall and growers’ access to irrigation. Some farms are supplementing their native tree stocks with more shipped trees this year.
“If you want a live tree, my advice would be to get one early for the best selection,” he said.
Raley said sales typically kick off the weekend following Thanksgiving. Farms have been busy ordering trees and preparing their farms for sales season. In North Carolina, tree damage and impassable roads were concerns regarding Christmas tree supplies following the flood damage from Hurricane Helene. However, there was limited damage following the storm to farms and roads have been restored.
Texas producers continue to expand their acreage where they can, Raley said. Many choose-and-cut farms are also diversifying their operation with “experiential services” built around Christmas trees like hayrides, do-it-yourself decoration/wreath making and games.
“They’re trying to build a complete seasonal experience,” he said. “We’re seeing some older generational farms closing, but we’re also hearing from younger entrepreneurs who want to do something in the green industry, and they are looking to start with Christmas trees.”
Demand For Replacement Seedlings Continues To Rise
Stan Reed, executive secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, said the organization is seeing similar expansion and diversification trends in the industry across Texas. He estimates there are 85-95 tree farms in Texas that range from small “mom and pop” growers-sellers to 60-70-acre operations.
“Texas doesn’t have any growers who serve the wholesale market, but there are two operations that are poised to enter that market, which will serve local-cut live-tree stands,” he said.
Reed said new information and methods are helping growers increase production and limit setbacks like lost seedlings. There are four primary tree varieties that perform well in Texas growing conditions – Virginia and Afghan pines, and Leyland and Carolina sapphire cypresses.
Christmas trees in Texas are typically grown in four-year rotations, he said. The association sells seedling Virginia pine trees started from seed banks created by the Texas A&M Forest Service at a discount to growers.
Reed said growers have purchased around 130,000 seedlings so far for their upcoming replants.
Growers have been encouraged to buy more trees than they will plant to replace the season’s harvest. Those excess trees are kept as potted trees and are available to replace seedlings that do not establish and survive. Over the years, Reed said some growers have begun taking advantage of keeping trees potted longer to expedite their growth and shorten their harvest time to three years.
Raley said the seedling program started in the early 2000s, and research trials around the state have identified trees and varietal germplasm that are resilient and perform best. Seed from selected high performers grafted in seed orchards are used to create the seedlings supplied through the association.
“That program is about continuous improvement, and our goal is to meet or exceed the demand of growers each season,” Raley said. “That’s become a challenge because those numbers keep going up every year, but we want to continue to see that trend.”
Honoring the First Female Engineer in Texas
Dec. 23, 2024 – By Jeff Barker – BASTROP — The first woman engineer in Texas is set to be honored with a new historical marker in Bastrop County.
In 1938, Leah Moncure made history by becoming the first woman in Texas to earn a professional engineering license.
Moncure went on to work for the Texas Highway Department — now TxDOT— for 32 years, specializing in research, right-of-way and road design. During her historic tenure, Moncure worked in Houston, Austin, Beaumont and Lufkin.
The Texas Historical Commission and Bastrop County will unveil a new historical marker in January 2025 to honor Moncure’s accomplishments. The marker is part of the Commission’s ‘Undertold’ program designed to address historical gaps, promote diversity of topics and proactively document significant underrepresented subjects or untold stories.
Moncure’s trailblazing spirit paved the way for the more than 300 female engineers currently employed at TxDOT.
Diana Schulze is TxDOT’s head engineer in Moncure’s hometown of Bastrop. When Schulze took over the role in 2016, she became the first-ever female engineer to hold the top spot at any TxDOT office in the agency’s Austin District.
“I think it’s pretty neat that we both have ties to Bastrop County,” Schulze said. “We’ve come a long way, and it’s important we continue to honor Leah’s legacy.”
Schulze continues that legacy by mentoring the next generation of female engineers in Texas, including many currently on her staff.
“There’s no reason that upcoming female engineers can’t be successful like Leah and many others before them.” Schulze said.
Schulze will speak at the marker dedication scheduled for Jan. 13. The marker will be placed outside Moncure’s childhood home in Bastrop.
East Texas A&M University Earns Full Reaccreditation, Secures Future of Excellence
With reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the university reaffirms its commitment to high-quality education.
COMMERCE, TX, December 20, 2024—East Texas A&M University has once again earned its seal of excellence, receiving full reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) this December. SACSCOC sets the standard for quality education among colleges and universities across the southern United States and beyond.
To achieve reaccreditation, East Texas A&M demonstrated its commitment to effective leadership, high-quality educational programs and robust student support services.
Why SACSCOC accreditation matters
Accreditation holds significant value for students, faculty and the entire East Texas A&M community. Alison Soeder, the university’s director of Institutional Effectiveness, emphasized its importance.
“Reaffirmation shares that our students are receiving a high-quality education,” Soeder said. “That covers all the areas, from our mission, our faculty, our educational programs, our policies and procedures, and our distance education sites. It covers everything that our institution does for our students.”
Accreditation also ensures that:
- East Texas A&M remains eligible for federal financial aid.
- Students can transfer credits to other universities.
- Employers and graduate schools recognize and respect East Texas A&M degrees.
A collaborative, campus-wide effort
Soeder and Dr. Ricky Dobbs, senior vice provost, led the two-year reaccreditation process, which required extensive collaboration among administrators, faculty, staff and students across numerous campus departments.
“I am very grateful for all the help and support we received from across campus during our journey to reaffirmation,” Dobbs said.
“It was truly a team effort,” Soeder added. “Bringing all of them together and working to achieve that final product definitely took a village.”
The result? A comprehensive 440-page report that effectively tells East Texas A&M’s story. Additionally, a peer review committee—comprised of experts from other institutions—visited campus to interview students and staff and assess East Texas A&M’s processes firsthand.
New initiatives: strategic plan and student career focus
Reaccreditation also sparked initiatives aimed at enhancing student success. As part of the reaccreditation process, East Texas A&M refreshed its strategic plan, outlining goals that will guide the university’s mission to transform lives over the next five years.
Additionally, the university developed a new Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) focused on preparing students for their careers. Integrated into classrooms and student services, the QEP, Foundation for Your Future, helps students choose a path, prepare for the workforce, and launch their careers after graduation.
Looking ahead: continuous compliance and growth
Reaccreditation may last 10 years, but the work doesn’t stop here. East Texas A&M’s commitment to “continuous compliance” ensures ongoing progress.
“My office, Institutional Effectiveness, will continually work with subject matter experts on campus to ensure information and data are updated so we’re capturing any changes or improvements in those areas,” Soeder said. “That way, when it’s time to tell our story next time, for the Fifth Year Interim Report, we have a lot of that basic work done.”
Pride in excellence and the Lion community
Soeder reflected on the accomplishment of reaccreditation with pride in East Texas A&M and its vibrant community.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students, incredibly proud of the institution and what we’re doing here,” Soeder said. “We have a lot to offer.”
Dobbs agreed. “Reaffirmation is about telling our story to peers, and we have a great story to tell—of transformed lives and dedicated faculty and staff.”
With its SACSCOC reaccreditation secured, East Texas A&M continues to pave the way for student success, maintaining its reputation as a leader in quality education.
Opinion: Dollars Don’t Kill Screwworms
An Editorial by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
December 24, 2024 – The federal government has a bad habit of spending money on problems before even figuring out what’s really wrong, and the recent New World screwworm scare is a prime example. This is typical Washington behavior—prematurely spending first and asking questions later. But here in Texas, we do things differently. We solve problems with proven solutions, not government handouts and wasteful spending.
While protecting Texas cattle from disease is always our number one priority, we need to carefully consider the ripple effects of drastic measures like closing the border to livestock and animal products. It’s a surefire way to create a crisis where there isn’t one—and consumers will feel it every time they visit the meat aisle.
Look, I know a thing or two about screwworms. I was about eleven years old when the United States eradicated the New World Screwworm. Before then, screwworms were a devastating problem for ranchers. Cattle infected with screwworms showed unmistakable and crass signs—open, festering wounds teeming with larvae. You’d see animals in obvious distress, licking at the wounds and losing weight rapidly. Believe me, if you’ve got a screwworm outbreak, it’s not a question of “if”; there’s no mistaking it. You can smell them from 100 feet away.
For starters, let’s not forget the facts. We’ve come a long way since those dark days. The sterile fly eradication program, developed decades ago, was a game-changer. By releasing sterile male screwworm flies into the environment, we broke the reproduction cycle and wiped out the problem in the United States.
Recently, only one cow of thousands that were crossing into Mexico was found just north of the Guatemalan border—1,100 miles away from Texas—with a screwworm infection. That’s proof that the system is functioning as it should. So, before we panic and shut down border crossings, let’s make sure we’re not creating a bigger problem than the one we’re trying to solve.
Instead of recognizing this as a victory, the federal government is talking about throwing $165 million worth of taxpayer dollars at a “solution” for a problem that hasn’t been fully identified. Listen, dollars don’t kill screwworms. Sterile flies do. Detection systems do. We already have the tools to manage this issue because we’ve been doing it successfully for decades.
Winter gives us an edge in fighting screwworm outbreaks because cooler temperatures slow down fly activity and reproduction. With fewer flies, there’s less risk of infestations, giving ranchers and agencies more time to contain the problem and protect our livestock.
We already take precautions at the border. Every head of livestock crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is subject to strict quarantine and inspection protocols to protect our agriculture and food supply. Cattle are required to have health certificates, vaccinations, and testing to prevent diseases like foot-and-mouth and bovine tuberculosis from entering the U.S. In some cases, livestock are placed in quarantine for further monitoring to ensure they meet our rigorous health and safety standards.
Closing the border to livestock or animal products—even temporarily—could send shockwaves through the beef market. Mexico is one of our largest trading partners for cattle and beef, with significant imports of feeder cattle that help keep supply steady here in the U.S. Cutting off that supply could lead to a bottleneck, reducing the number of cattle available to feedlots, processors, and grocery stores.
Fewer cattle mean higher beef prices, increasing inflation at the checkout line.
And let’s not forget about our hardworking ranchers. Many Texas cattle producers rely on cross-border trade to keep their operations running smoothly. Shutting down the border could disrupt their business, leading to financial strain and fewer options for consumers.
As a rancher who’s seen the damage screwworms can do, I know the stakes are high. But I also know we’ve already won this battle once, and if need be, we’re equipped to win it again. The real threat here isn’t the screwworm itself—it’s the federal government that all too often overreacts and wastes taxpayer resources.=
Protecting Texas cattle from screwworms is important, but so is keeping beef prices affordable for families and securing the livelihood of our ranchers. Closing the border might sound like a quick fix, but it’s a cure that could end up being worse than the disease.
The cattle industry in Texas remains strong, and with the right approach, we’ll keep it that way.
First Lady Abbott Celebrates Fulfilling Over 5,300 Holiday Wishes Of Texas Children In Foster Care
December 24, 2024 – Austin, Texas – First Lady Cecilia Abbott today celebrated the generosity of Texans serving Texans as more than 5,300 wish lists of Texas children in foster care have been filled through donations by state agency employees in this year’s Holiday Wishes program. Sponsored by the Governor’s Commission for Women and the State Agency Council, the annual Holiday Wishes program, coordinated through the nonprofit Partnerships for Children, helps ensure children in foster care across 31 counties in Central and South Central Texas have gifts to open on Christmas morning.
“Every child deserves to know the promise of hope and the joy that Christmas brings,” said First Lady Abbott. “There is no greater example of Texans helping Texans than providing support for foster and adoptive families in Texas during the holiday season. This starts with a Network of Nurture—a community of individuals, families, friends, local leaders, nonprofit organizations, businesses, faith community members, and anyone willing to open their hands, their hearts, or their homes to the children and families in the state’s child welfare system. I thank the Governor’s Commission for Women, the State Agency Council, Partnerships for Children, and employees of the 56 participating state agencies who generously donated much-wanted gifts for our children in foster care.”
The First Lady recently hosted members of the Governor’s Commission for Women and the State Agency Council at the Governor’s Mansion to celebrate the Holiday Wishes program’s success and to prepare gift bags for caseworkers supporting children in foster care in the Central Texas region.
The Governor’s Commission for Women has served as a resource and champion for women throughout Texas for more than 50 years. Its mission is to provide access to the resources and tools that empower and enable Texas women and girls so that they may live healthier, more productive, and more prosperous lives.
The State Agency Council provides support to the Commission and offers professional development training to its members. The Council also presents the Outstanding Women in Texas Government Awards.
Partnerships for Children was founded in 2003 in Central Texas. Its mission is to make tomorrow better than today by supporting and empowering children, youth, and families involved with Child Protective Services in Texas.
Incoming State Rep. Kerwin Introduces Measure to Limit Harmful Chemicals in Fertilizer
In lockstep with ranchers and state prosecutors who have raised the alarm, Kerwin’s measure seeks new restrictions over harmful PFAS chemicals.
By Luca Cacciatore | December 20, 2024 – State Rep.-elect Helen Kerwin of Glen Rose has introduced a measure to regulate and limit the proliferation of harmful chemicals in fertilizers sold in Texas.
House Bill 1674 officially defines perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “PFAS” chemicals. It then seeks to amend the Agriculture Code to establish strict limits on their presence in fertilizers and other agricultural materials and mandating regular testing of PFAS levels.
PFAS chemicals were first introduced with the invention of Teflon. Because they do not easily break down, they are grouped with similar compounds known as “forever chemicals.” In excess concentration, they can cause cancer, fertility issues, and respiratory problems.
“I am hoping that our legislators will support the prevention of these forever chemicals from contaminating our Texas farmlands,” Kerwin told Texas Scorecard. “Farmers are the backbone of our country, and none of us could survive without them. We must do better by our farmers, our children, and future generations.”
Kerwin’s measure would impose strict penalties for companies violating her new proposed PFAS restrictions and approve the use of stop-sale orders and licensing suspensions for repeat offenders.
The forever chemicals gained statewide attention when they were discovered in Fort Worth area fertilizers made by the Maryland-based company Synagro, which utilized repurposed waste materials called “biosolids.”
While current Environmental Protection Agency standards put the acceptable amount of PFAS in drinking water at four parts per trillion, the PFAS present in the biosolid fertilizer samples tested was considerably higher.
Lab results from the Johnson County Constable Precinct 4’s office found 27 different PFAS chemicals in one biosolids sample. In addition, the PFAS level in a single calf’s liver was a shocking 610,000 parts per trillion.
Ranchers affected by the PFAS chemicals filed a lawsuit against Synagro following the lab results. They also sued the EPA alongside several environmentalist groups for failing to prevent PFAS contamination in fertilizers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has since gotten involved in the fight as well. Earlier this month, his office announced it would go after the largest manufacturers of PFAS chemical products, 3M and DuPont.
“These companies knew for decades that PFAS chemicals could cause serious harm to human health yet continued to advertise them as safe for household use around families and children,” stated Paxton. “Texas is taking action to penalize these companies and hold them accountable for deceiving Texans into buying consumer products without vital information.”
The 89th Legislative Session begins January 14.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues NCAA To Protect Women’s Sports and Prevent Biological Men from Deceptively Competing in Sex-Specific Competitions
December 23, 2024 – Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) for engaging in false, deceptive, and misleading practices by marketing sporting events as “women’s” competitions only to then provide consumers with mixed sex competitions where biological males compete against biological females.
That only biological women will compete in the events is an important reason consumers choose to support women’s sports. By falsely marketing and selling competitions as “women’s” sports only to provide a mixed sex event, the NCAA violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act which exists to protect consumers from businesses attempting to mislead or trick them into purchasing goods or services that are not as advertised. The NCAA further misleads consumers by failing to disclose which participants in its “women’s” competitions are biological males.
Attorney General Paxton requested the court grant a permanent injunction prohibiting the NCAA from allowing biological males to compete in women’s sporting events in Texas or involving Texas teams, or alternatively requiring the NCAA to stop marketing events as “women’s” when in fact they are mixed sex competitions.
“The NCAA is intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women by deceptively changing women’s competitions into co-ed competitions,” said Attorney General Paxton. “When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women—not biological males pretending to be something they are not. Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.”
Your Wildcats took on Mabank in Basketball Action December 17th
December 22, 2024 – The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats took on Mabank in Basketball action Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Below is KSST’s coverage of the game. Sports Director John Mark Dempsey called Play by Play and Tony Flippin offered his expertise in Color Commentary. Be sure to check out the exciting game below!
Get your Garden Ready for Onions in 2025 From Master Gardener David Wall
December 21, 2024 – Onions are a fun crop to grow, requiring minimal soil preparation and very little maintenance. They tolerate most soils and transplant extremely well. They have a history possibly exceeding 5,000 years, so they’ve been around awhile, and it’s hard to imagine many foods without them. There are many varieties, and new varieties seemed to be in continual development.
Typical varieties include yellow, white and purple (red). Vedalias are considered tops, but are more expensive and seldom available for transplanting. They usually have to be grown from seed. Your local nurseries and/or hardware stores will usually have several varieties for transplanting around 15 January. Buy what you need and immediately get them in the ground.
Planting onion seeds should have already been accomplished by now, and few of us plant onion bulbs, so let’s looks at transplants. There are numerous onion sets sold in your areas, and all are good, so the choice is yours. For soil, Onions are heavy feeders, so good soil is preferred. For best results in poor soil, amend it with quality compost and add a little slow-release fertilizer. You can grow onions in your garden or almost anywhere they get plenty of sun. They’re great companion plans for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, cabbages & flowers, but should never be grown with peas, beans, asparagus, garlic, shallots or leeks.
Onions do better in raised beds, so simply space transplants 4” apart and 1” deep. You can go deeper, but final bulb sizes seem to be smaller. Seedling bulb size when transplanting is NOT an indication of the final bulb size. For a planting example, put a pin where a tomato plant will be located in May. Then, press the tomato cage in the soil. The plant and cage are now known, so put the transplants everywhere else!!!
