Summer Terms at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
SIGNING UP
Stephen Harris of Yantis begins his enrollment process for the summer terms at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus with Office Manager Dana Smock. For information about enrollment for summer and fall call 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Traffic Stop Nets $8,000, Messages Related To Human Trafficking,1 Arrest
Deputies arrested a Garland man Wednesday night on a money laundering charge, after a search revealed more than $8,000 in cash and social media notifications related to human trafficking or smuggling on his phone, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Josh Davis and Bobby Osornio reported stopping a Ford F150 pickup at 7:56 p.m. April 27, 2022, for speeding and following too close to another vehicle on Interstate 30 west at mile marker 130. While speaking with the driver, one of the deputies reported seeing on the front seat a six pack with one beer missing and in the front floorboard a bundle of 50-dollar bills sticking out of a fanny pack.
He asked the man to step out of the truck and talk to him. While doing so, the deputy observed what he noted in arrest reports to be numerous signs of deception and nervous behavior. The driver agreed to let the deputy search the truck. He found about $8,000 in US currency in the fanny pack. The man also had more than $500 on him as well.
When asked, the man agreed to let the deputies look at his phone. Numerous notifications from social media groups that were related to human trafficking or the smuggling of people, Davis alleged in arrest reports. He claimed his brother provided him with the currency to purchase appliances for his resale company, which he named, Davis alleged in arrest reports. One of the deputies conducted a Goggle search but found no information that the alleged company existed anywhere in Texas.
The pickup also had a fictitious temporary tag inside, which the driver claimed he’d purchased in Houston, and could not provide any proof as to the origin of the cash. That, coupled with the human smuggling information on the phone, resulted in the deputy taking Pedro Garcia-Alarcon into custody at 10:12 p.m. April 27, 2022
The 30-year-old Garland man was booked into Hopkins County jail at 1:51 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2022, on a charge for money laundering. The cash was counted and totaled more than $8,500, according to jail reports. Garcia-Alarcon remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday afternoon, April 28, 2022, on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
SSHS Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy Invites Community To Battle Of The Badges Game
The Sulphur Springs High School Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy invites the entire community to bring the family and come out and have fun watching the Battle of the Badges Softball Game this Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Lady Cats softball park at SSHS.
Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy is hosting the event as their spring group project. The CFA Leadership meets once monthly throughout the school year to develop leadership skills. At least once each semester the students are tasked with conducting service projects.
Sulphur Springs Chick-Fil-A franchise owner and Operator Bryson Bullington donated $4,000 toward the program. First, the students were challenged to a one-on-one service project, finding a teacher or someone who does good for others and reward them with one of two gift cards they received for the purpose. For Do Good December, students partnered in groups of three and four students to perform service projects.
Friddle noted that in December, the group she was part of held a food and fuzzy sock drive which were donated to others in the community. Other groups provided hot chocolate packets and other rewards at district schools and for teachers. They also have to perform a community service project this spring as well, and chose Battle of the Badges. Debbie Stribling serves as advisor for the SSHS program.
Battle of the Badges Coordinator Kinley Friddle explained that the event is designed as a community function to bring people together after the past couple of years of COVID restrictions which gives back to first responders who have and continue to serve the community. While other ideas were considered, the decision was made by the SSHS Chick-Fil-A Leadership to give pay honor, show respect and appreciation to first responders – the people who are always there on the front line serving the community.
“We’re recognizing police officer, firefighters, and any EMS or EMT worker,” Friddle said. “We felt like we should be able to give back to them, to show our respect and how thankful we are that we have them in our community, showing a big thank you and showing how in the world today there are so many negative looks on first responders. We want to let them know that there is positive still, that a community can still come together to have a positive interactions with police officers, and with their firefighters and EMT people.”
Playing in the game will be a mix of students from the high school as well as a number of first responders. Ideally, this will help the students and community get to know first responders so that should they need their services, they’ll feel a little better being served by officers, firefighters and paramedics they know, making for a friendly interaction.
“We will be playing a softball game at Lady Cat park Saturday at 10 o’clock. We’re wanting to welcome the entire community to come out and support them as the winner will be given a prize amount to be given back to their facility or organization of their choice.”
The event will be one game, so as not to interfere if the Lady Cats have a third playoff game Saturday afternoon. Currently, the second game of the bi-district series will be played in Whitehouse on Friday evening, Apr. 29. Game three, if necessary, would be hosted in Lady Cat Park at 2 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 30.
The first responders decided not to have each group play the other, but instead to have teams consist of a mix of all first responders and students.
“They decided they can’t get together and have a friendly competition because it gets too competitive and people end up getting hurt, so it’s going to be a mix and everybody’s going to be in their having fun together,” Friddle explained. “The winning team will get to divide the money between their facility or they can donate it back to an organization of their choice – really, whatever they would like to do with it.”
Donations from sponsors Alliance Bank, El Charro, Chad’s Media, Highway 19 Construction, Lander’s Creek, Guaranty Bond and Trust, Cowboys Truck Wash and Endless T-Shirts allow the first responders to play for free. An entry fee will be charged for first responders’ families and others to be admitted to watch the game, however. Admission will be $2 per student, free for ages 5 and younger and $5 per adult with a maximum of $15 charged per family. All funds will go back to the first responders either to benefit their agency or organization directly or their charity of choice.
And, there will be other things families can enjoy to get a true ballpark experience during the game as well. An ice cream truck is scheduled to be on hand to offer treats for kids for a fee. A Chick-Fil-A Cow will be on hand to greet community members and cheer on the teams. A concession stand will be available offering those watching snacks should they choose to purchase any.
FDA Proposes Product Standards Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars
Administration Hopes Change Will Help Prevent Youth Use, Significantly Reduce Tobacco-Related Disease and Death
Today (April 28, 2022), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing proposed product standards to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and prohibit all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in cigars. These actions have the potential to significantly reduce disease and death from combusted tobacco product use, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., by reducing youth experimentation and addiction, and increasing the number of smokers that quit.
“The proposed rules would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Additionally, the proposed rules represent an important step to advance health equity by significantly reducing tobacco-related health disparities.”
These proposed product standards are based on clear science and evidence establishing the addictiveness and harm of these products and build on the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which prohibited all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco and menthol) in cigarettes in 2009. They are also a critical piece of the Administration’s reignited Cancer Moonshot to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years; tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer, and approximately 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States are caused by smoking.
“The authority to adopt tobacco product standards is one of the most powerful tools Congress gave the FDA and the actions we are proposing can help significantly reduce youth initiation and increase the chances that current smokers quit. It is clear that these efforts will help save lives,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Through the rulemaking process, there’s an important opportunity for the public to make their voices heard and help shape the FDA’s ongoing efforts to improve public health.”
Public health impact
Menthol is a flavor additive with a minty taste and aroma that reduces the irritation and harshness of smoking. This increases appeal and makes menthol cigarettes easier to use, particularly for youth and young adults. Menthol also interacts with nicotine in the brain to enhance nicotine’s addictive effects. The combination of menthol’s flavor, sensory effects and interaction with nicotine in the brain increases the likelihood that youth who start using menthol cigarettes will progress to regular use. Menthol also makes it more difficult for people to quit smoking.
In 2019, there were more than 18.5 million current menthol cigarette smokers ages 12 and older in the U.S., with particularly high rates of use by youth, young adults, and African American and other racial and ethnic groups. Published modeling studies have estimated a 15 percent reduction in smoking within 40 years if menthol cigarettes were no longer available in the United States. These studies also estimate that 324,000 to 654,000 smoking attributable deaths overall (92,000 to 238,000 among African Americans) would be avoided over the course of 40 years.
When finalized, the FDA hopes the proposed menthol product standard will:
- reduce the appeal of cigarettes, particularly to youth and young adults, decreasing the likelihood that nonusers who would otherwise experiment with menthol cigarettes would progress to regular smoking; and
- improve the health and reduce the mortality risk of current menthol cigarette smokers by decreasing cigarette consumption and increasing the likelihood of cessation.
Flavored cigar product standard and youth risk
Characterizing flavors in cigars, such as strawberry, grape, cocoa and fruit punch, increase appeal and make cigars easier to use, particularly among youth and young adults. More than a half million youth in the U.S. use flavored cigars, and in recent years more young people tried a cigar every day than tried a cigarette.
When finalized, the FDA hopes the product standard will:
- reduce the appeal of cigars, particularly to youth and young adults, and decrease the likelihood of experimentation, development of nicotine dependence, and progression to regular use; and
- improve public health by increasing the likelihood that existing cigar smokers may quit.
No FDA enforcement against individuals for possession or use
If these proposed rules are finalized and implemented, FDA enforcement will only address manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, importers and retailers who manufacture, distribute, or sell such products within the U.S. that are not in compliance with applicable requirements. These proposed regulations do not include a prohibition on individual consumer possession or use.
State and local law enforcement agencies do not independently enforce the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and do not, and cannot, take enforcement actions against any violation of FDA’s tobacco authorities, including its regulations, on the FDA’s behalf. However, the agency recognizes concerns related to how state and local law enforcement may enforce their own laws in a manner that may impact equity and community safety, particularly for underserved and underrepresented communities. The FDA is seeking comment on, among other things, how it can best make clear the respective roles of the agency and state and local law enforcement, as well as policy considerations related to the potential racial and social justice implications of the proposed product standards.
Beginning May 4, 2022, the public can provide comments on these proposed rules, which the FDA will review as it considers future action. The agency also will convene public listening sessions on June 13 and June 15 to expand direct engagement with the public, including affected communities. The listening sessions are another opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations to share their perspectives with the FDA and will be recorded and submitted to the dockets.
The public will have the opportunity to submit either electronic or written comments directly to the dockets on the proposed rules through July 5, 2022. Once all the comments have been reviewed and considered, the FDA will decide whether to issue final product standards.
The agency also recognizes the importance of ensuring broad and equitable access to all the tools and resources that can help smokers quit. The FDA and HHS are working with federal partners to make sure the support is there for those who are trying to quit, especially in underserved communities. Many insurance plans cover tobacco cessation services, like medication and counseling, without any out-of-pocket cost. Smokers interested in quitting today should visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to learn about cessation services available in their state.
Additional Resources:
- Fact Sheet: Proposed product standards to prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in cigars
- Menthol in Cigarettes, Tobacco Products; Request for Comments
- FDA: Preliminary Scientific Evaluation of the Possible Public Health Effects of Menthol Versus Nonmenthol Cigarettes
Three Sulphur Bluff Students Sign Letters to Play On in College
On Monday, Apr. 25 Sulphur Bluff ISD hosting an event celebrating three seniors who signed on to play in college.
Skylar Stanley, Trevor Moore and Bailey Neal all signed letters of intent for Texas schools.
Stanley, the first senior honored Monday morning, has been a member of Sulphur Bluff varsity volleyball for three years.
Coach Lacie Jessup, her coach for those three years on varsity, said Stanley has an incredible work ethic. Coach J said she did not know of another athlete who was quite as competitive as the senior.
Sulphur Bluff made it all the way to the state semi-finals for volleyball, but fell in three sets to Fayetteville. Stanley was a pivotal of that squad, providing eight kills in the semi-final loss to the Lady Lions. She led the team in kills and blocks, and was picked to the Texas Girl’s Coach’s Association All-State Team.
Coach J said Stanley was a blast to be around and have on her team.
The volleyball coach said everyone will miss Stanley, who on Monday made it official, signing to play volleyball at Texas A&M-Texarkana.
The second student-athlete to be honored Monday was Trevor Moore, a member of Sulphur Bluff baseball.
Moore overcame a broken arm injury he suffered last season to become a big contributor to to the Bears in the postseason. Sulphur Bluff made it to the Regional Semifinals before falling to Miller Grove.
This season, the senior set the goal that he wanted to throw 50 strikeouts this season. Moore shattered that, breaking the strikeout record of 75 held at Sulphur Bluff HS.
His baseball coach Dustin Carr said he is a multi-faceted, talented player; whether it be pitching, playing defense or hitting the ball Coach Carr said Moore is an invaluable asset to the baseball program.
The baseball coach said he is a great player and will be missed for all he brings to the team.
Moore heads to the DFW metroplex to play at Dallas Christian.
The third and final senior honored Monday, Apr. 26 in Sulphur Bluff was Bailey Neal, a stand-out member of track and field and cross country.
The senior won 25 medals and counting in cross country and track & field, along with several team accolades as well.
Her cross country coach said both she and her two fellow student-athletes had incredible work ethics. He said Neal was extremely coachable and very receptive to feedback.
Adding on to that, he said Neal when he first arrived at SBISD, Neal (then a freshman), texted the cross country coach asking if he was coming to work out on the regularly scheduled morning runs, proving how dedicated she is to her craft and better herself.
The track and cross country star has competed at the state level three of her four years, with the lone year not to run at state being the 2020 shortened season due to COVID-19.
The senior signed her letter of intent to run track nearby at Texas A&M-Commerce.
Hopkins County Cleanup Days Slated April 29-30, 2022; Cumby Cleanup Days: April 28-30, 2022
Scrap Metal Disposed Of Will Benefit Volunteer Fire Departments
The City of Cumby and Hopkins County are providing opportunities this weekend to allow residents to dispose of larger household items during designated Cleanup days. Both are strictly for residents; no commercial disposal will be accepted.
County Cleanup
The four county precinct barns will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 29, and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 30.
While county residents may bring may bring personal household trash, brush and certain appliances to the county barn of their precinct, no toxic or hazardous materials will be accepted. That means no tires, no shingles, no chemicals, no household hazardous wastes, no pesticides, no paint and no appliances containing Freon will be accepted during the county cleanup.
Those hauling large items are asked not to bring it in gooseneck trailers as it is difficult getting them in and unloaded. Commissioners typically some staff available to assist people when they arrive, but noted those bringing larger items to discard should be prepared to off load those items themselves.
Also, any metal items donated during the county’s annual spring clean-up days will be scrapped, with funds received again designated to benefit the county volunteer fire departments.
The four county precinct barns will serve as collection sites for the Hopkins County Clean Up Days. The barns can be found at the following locations:
- Precinct 1 Barn – 5516 State Highway 19 south, Sulphur Springs
- Precinct 2 Barn – 12080 State Highway 11 east, Como
- Precinct 3 Barn – 583 County Road 3564, Dike
- Precinct 4 Barn – FM 2653, Cumby, 1.7 mile south of State Highway 11 west
For additional information about the county clean up days, including which items are and are not acceptable contact the commissioner for your precinct.
Cumby Cleanup
The City of Cumby 2022 Spring Cleanup continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 28-30, for city residents only.
Two dumpsters will be placed inside the fencing of the City of Cumby Water Tank on Barker Street for use by residents of the City of Cumby. Those dropping off items should be prepared to present a copy of their City of Cumby water bill or a driver’s license with the Cumby address.
While the dumpsters are provided for the convenience of residents who need to get rid of more items than will fill their trash cans during Cumby Spring Cleanup, there are some items that will not be allowed. No chemicals, paint, tree limbs, car batteries, tires or hazardous wastes may be disposed of in the city dumpsters.
Softball Uses Big 5th Inning to Win Game 1 of Bi-District, 3-0
Lady Cats softball capitalized on a few timely hits to win game one of the Bi-District series with Whitehouse, 3-0.
Coach David Carrillo’s team scored three runs off four hits in the 5th inning.
Parris Pickett led off the bottom frame of the inning with a single. Followed immediately by a single from Kinz Smallwood, and an error allowing Nicole Higgins to reach base, and Sulphur Springs loaded the bases with no outs.
C Anahi Velasquez got the biggest hit of the night, batting in two runs to give the Lady Cats the lead 2-0. Two batters later Jadyn Harper got another run in as Sulphur Springs got the lead for good, shutting down Whitehouse 3-0 to win game one of the Bi-District series.
A tight game until the bottom of the 5th, neither team recorded a hit until the big inning from Coach Carrillo’s squad.
P Crimson Bryant had a lights-out performance, allowing only one hit in a complete seven inning game. The junior walked three batters but struck out 16 in the win.
Sulphur Springs recorded just five hits in the game. The lone hit not previously mentioned came in the 6th inning thanks to Bryant singling in her third at-bat.
Whitehouse, on the other hand, recorded just one hit and got only four of their 24 batters on base, a horrid .208 team OBP.
The 3-0 shutout win over Whitehouse gives Coach Carrillo’s team a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, bumping up their record to 22-2-2.
The second game of the series has the Lady Cats traveling to Whitehouse on Friday, Apr. 29 with that one set to begin on Friday at 6:30 P.M.
Game three, if necessary, has softball back at home on Saturday, Apr. 30 hosting Whitehouse at 2 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Sulphur Springs Man, Woman Jailed On Felony Warrants
A Sulphur Springs man and woman were jailed Tuesday on felony warrants, according to arrest reports.
Christopher Scott Brown turned himself in to authorities at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office at 11:30 a.m. April 26, 2022, on warrants. Deputy Aaron Chaney contacted the man and, after dispatchers confirmed he was indeed wanted for bond revocation on two charges, placed the 43-year-old Sulphur Springs man into handcuffs and escorted him into the county jail.
Brown was booked in at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday for bond revocation on aggravated assault of a date, family or household member and assault of a peace officer or judge.
Brown was arrested on Christmas Day 2021, on both assault charges, for allegedly threatening his stepfather with a knife during an altercation, then becoming unruly at the hospital and assaulting the deputy who took him there to be treated, officers noted in reports following the 2021 arrest. He remained in Hopkins County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond per charge from Dec. 25, 2021 to April 16, 2022.
He turned himself in Tuesday for bond revocation on both and remained in the county jail Wednesday, April 27, 2022, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Isaac Foley, Drew Fisher and Zack Horne, aware of a warrant for a 58-year-old Sulphur Springs woman’s arrest, served her with the warrant at her Nicholson Street address, served the warrant and took her into custody at 11:05 p.m. April 26, 2022.
Terri Kay Coplin was booked into Hopkins County jail at 11:33 p.m. Tuesday on the warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance. She was held in the county jail on the charge Wednesday, April 27, 2022, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
SSHS Blue Blazes Spring Show, Blue & Gold Review, Will Be April 29-30
The Sulphur Springs High School Blue Blazes will perform the annual Spring Show at 7 p.m. nightly, Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, in the SSHS Auditorium.
“We are having our Blue And Gold Review, as it was called in the past. We are bringing history back. We are repeating the last 60 years of the Blazes or as it was called then, the Blue And Gold Review. It’s our spring show that we do every single year,” said Meredith Dial, Blue Blazes director.
For a fee of $10 paid in advance or $15 at the door, anyone can attend and enjoy the 30 numbers spread over the course of 2-2.5 hours. The Blazes will be the entertainment. Students from other programs within the fine arts department – including the SSHS Jazz Band, Choir and Color Guard – will be involved in the Spring Show as well. Sulphur Springs Center For Dance Surge Dancers will also be performing, and the Blaze Buddies will be performing in three numbers this year!
Tickets are available by clicking the designated link on the SSISD social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat or contact any Blue Blaze for the link; or ask a Blue Blaze for a paper ticket; or use the QR Code on event poster below.
Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel Program Will Be About “Dolly Parton Imagination Library”
Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel will meet Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10 a.m. at The ROC, 115 Putman St., Sulphur Springs. All retired school employees in the area are invited and encouraged to attend. Lyn Baldwin will present a program on “Dolly Parton Imagination Library Comes to Rains County!”
Lyn Baldwin, an educator of 42 years, is now retired and volunteering in Rains County. Three years ago, while watching Good Morning America, Lyn saw an interview featuring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program mails FREE books to children under the age of five to communities who become Local Affiliates of the program. Local Affiliates pay a small portion of the book and mailing costs, while Dolly’s Foundation pays the rest.
Lyn, then and there, decided she would work for Rains County to become part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The Rains County program was organized in 2018 and began enrolling children in 2019. Today over 190 children in Rains County receive books each month.
The Rains County program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has a five-member board, with 14 people on their Dolly Team working on enrollment, fundraising, parent engagement, area development, and spreading the love of books and reading. Their goal is to set Rains County children on the path to educational success in literary skills.
Dolly and Lyn both believe that if you can read, you can do anything, dream anything, and be anything!
