The 2024 Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade Marched Through Sulphur Springs December 6th
December 11, 2024 – The 2024 Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade marched through downtown Sulphur Springs, Texas, on Friday, December 6, 2024. The event went off without any problems and was a big hit. Below is KSST’s coverage of the Christmas Parade. KSST’s James Terry offers commentary throughout the exciting parade. Be sure to check it out! Merry Christmas!
Wildcats Played Liberty-Eylau in Basketball December 3rd at Wildcat Gym
December 10, 2024 – Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats played Liberty-Eylau in basketball competition December 3rd, 2024, in Wildcat Gym in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Below is KSST’s coverage of this exciting game. Sports Director John Mark Dempsey called Play by Play and Tony Flippin returned to provide Color Commentary. Be sure to check out the exciting action below. Lady Cats take on Hooks December 13th, 2024 in Sulphur Springs, Texas, beginning around 6:15pm. KSST will bring you the game live on 1230AM, and streaming on our YouTube channel. Video playback of the game will air on Cable Channel 18 and will be available on YouTube at a later date and time.
Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library to be Open December 14th
December 10, 2024 – The Hopkins County Genealogical Society announces that their library will be open Saturday, December 14th, 2024, from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The library will be open for “all your research needs.” The Hopkins County Genealogical Society hopes “you will join us!” The Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library is located at 611 North Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Some Recent Photo Ops With Gala Sponsors
This year’s Gala proceeds will help purchase an MRI upgrade for CMF-SS which will benefit the entire community.
For sponsorships and tickets visit LOLGala2024.GiveSmart.com
Guaranty Bank & Trust is once again supporting the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Gala slated for January 25, 2025. They know that great local healthcare is good for the entire community.
Gathered with the Gala chairs, the Burgin family are representatives of the bank. From left to right are Joe Bob Burgin, Linda Burgin, Brad Thomas, Brandon Williams, and Teffany Burgin.
The fundraising goal for the 2025 Gala is $260,000.
Jay Hodge Chevrolet was squalling its tires to quickly support the Foundation’s 19th annual Gala! Not only is the dealership sponsoring the event, but it also donated a luxury designer bag for the Silent Auction. Representatives of the dealership gathered with the Gala chairs for a big check photo. Pictured left to right are Bill Owens, Teffany Burgin, Jay Hodge, Linda Burgin, and Joe Bob Burgin.
The Gala theme this year is Serendipity by the Sea.
A big shout out to The Sulphur Springs News-Telegram for helping the Foundation get the word out about the Serendipity by the Sea Gala. The Gala chairs meet with the newspaper leadership in appreciation of their gift-in-kind. Photographed are (l-r) representing the News-Telegram, Faith Huffman and Stephanie Page along with Gala Chairs Linda and Joe Bob Burgin.
The Gala will be held on January 25, 2025 at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
First Graduates of East Texas A&M University to be Honored at Fall Graduation
Fall commencement ceremonies at East Texas A&M are set for December 13 and 14.
COMMERCE, TX, Dec. 10, 2024—
East Texas A&M University will celebrate the first graduating class under its new name at commencement ceremonies on Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. The Fall 2024 graduation is an exciting milestone for the university, which changed its name from Texas A&M University-Commerce to East Texas A&M on November 7. The ceremonies will take place at the University Field House located at 1804 Lee Street on the campus of East Texas A&M. Doors will open one hour before each ceremony.
Degree candidates
The 1,289 degree candidates for East Texas A&M’s fall graduation include more than 500 graduate students and more than 700 undergraduate students. From these candidates, 354 will graduate with academic distinction, including 106 cum laude, 123 magna cum laude and 125 summa cum laude.
Graduate highlights
- Age of youngest graduate: 19
- Age of oldest graduate: 81
- U.S. states represented: 30
- Countries represented: 9
- First-generation graduates: 435
- International graduates: 146
Graduation ceremony schedule
East Texas A&M will conduct five separate ceremonies as follows:
Graduate School – Master’s
Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. | Livestream
College of Business
College of Science and Engineering
Graduate School – Doctoral and Master’s
Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 at 4 p.m. | Livestream
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
College of Education and Human Services
College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts
Undergraduate – Bachelor’s
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. | Livestream
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
College of Business
College of Science and Engineering
Undergraduate – Bachelor’s
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at 11 a.m. | Livestream
College of Education and Human Services
College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts
Undergraduate – Bachelor’s
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. | Livestream
College of Innovation and Design
Guest information
Tickets:
- Each graduate received an allotted number of tickets to share with family and friends. A ticket must be presented for each guest, including infants and toddlers.
- Guests should make sure they have their tickets BEFORE they arrive to the ceremony and have them ready to be scanned BEFORE entering the building.
- Guests without tickets may view a live stream of the ceremony, either on the second floor of the Rayburn Student Center or via the links above.
Parking:
- The closest parking lots are 1, 2, 3, and 5.
- Guests with disabilities (with proper vehicle identification) may park in Lot 4. The entrance to Lot 4 is on Bois D’Arc St.
- Shuttle buses are free of charge and will be rotating throughout the parking areas approximately every 15 minutes.
Bags:
- A clear bag policy is in place.
Accessibility:
- The bottom two rows of bleachers are reserved for guests with disabilities. Representatives from the Student Disability Services office will be available to assist. For accessibility concerns, please email [email protected].
For additional guest information, please visit tamuc.edu/Graduation.
Cedar Fever Season Begins in Texas
December 10, 2024 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas – It’s time for Texans to brace for cedar fever season once again. Cedar fever is an allergic reaction to the pollen released by mountain cedar trees, and unfortunately, you don’t have to be allergic to the pollen for it to affect you.
In Texas, the predominant species of mountain cedar is Ashe juniper, making cedar fever especially irritating in the Hill Country west of I-35 where there are primarily juniper trees mixed in with oaks and a few other species.
“Cedar fever is irritating to many due to the quantity and density of Ashe junipers in Central Texas that all produce pollen at the same time, which leads to a high concentration of pollen in the air,” said Robert Edmonson, Texas A&M Forest Service Biologist and ISA Certified Arborist.
The pollen from Ashe junipers isn’t particularly allergenic or harmful, but its concentration is what irritates most because your body perceives it as a threat and begins to fight it.
Since the pollen is spread by wind, cedar fever can even affect individuals who are not near a high concentration of juniper trees. And the source isn’t limited to Ashe junipers. In more eastern parts of the state there are also eastern redcedars that pollinate around the same time and can induce a similar response from people’s auto-immune systems.
Besides the massive quantity of pollen released, cedar fever is also problematic because of the timing of the pollen release. Most trees pollinate in the spring when many are expecting to have allergies. Ragweed pollen and mold spores can contribute to allergies in the fall, but very few plants pollinate during the winter. Juniper trees are the exception.
These trees typically begin producing pollen in mid-December, often triggered by colder weather or the passage of a cold front. Pollen production reaches its peak in mid-January, before slowly tapering off toward the beginning of March.
“Cold fronts are marked by very dry and windy conditions with rapid pressure changes which trigger pollen cones to open and release pollen grains,” said Edmonson. “In certain conditions, you can even see the pollen blowing off trees.”
For people new to the Central Texas region, or unfamiliar with cedar fever as a whole, it can also lead to confusion since the pollination period of mountain cedar trees occurs during the peak of cold and flu season. It’s not uncommon for people experiencing cedar fever to mistake their symptoms for a cold or the seasonal flu, especially given the variety of symptoms triggered by cedar fever. These include fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, partial loss of smell and some people run a slight fever. However, if your fever is higher than 101.5°F, then pollen likely isn’t the cause.
You can treat cedar fever by taking allergy medications and antihistamines, but you should consult with your physician or health care professional before taking new medications. You can also try and anticipate the pollen by tuning in to your local news station, many of which will give you the pollen count and can predict when it’s going to be a particularly pollen-heavy day. On those days, it’s smart to keep windows and doors closed, and to limit the amount of time you spend outdoors. It can also be helpful to install higher MERV-rated air filters in home and auto HVAC systems and invest in home air purifiers.
Removing juniper trees from your property isn’t recommended primarily because the pollen is airborne and—since they often wait to release their pollen until it’s cold, dry and windy—that pollen can blow for miles. It’s also important to note that only male juniper trees release pollen.
“The male trees have larger pollen cones, while the female trees have much smaller reproductive cones, which are very inconspicuous, but that’s what is pollinated from the male trees,” said Edmonson.
While cedar fever might sound and seem particularly hostile, Ashe junipers are really just a species like any other, feeling out the conditions and waiting for the perfect moment to release their pollen in order to set their offspring up for success come springtime.
For more information about how to identify Ashe junipers and/or eastern redcedars in your own backyard, check out the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Texas Tree ID webpage or the My Tree ID mobile app. You can also see the distribution of junipers, as well as a variety of other tree species across the state, via our Forest Distribution App.
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Dinner Bell for December 12, 2024
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Grocery Supply Company was founded in 1947 in Mt. Vernon, Texas. Coming to Sulphur Springs in 1953 kit located on Oak Avenue at the train tracks. Present day operation in Sulphur Springs are on Hillcrest Drive North.
Today, GSC Enterprises, Inc. operates two primary business segments: Grocery Supply Company that meets the needs of dry, refrigerated and frozen items for convenience stores; and Fidelity Express.
Fidelity Express, established in 1988, provides financial services such as money orders, bill pay, prepaid cards, gift cards and other walk-in cash products for independent retailers in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
GSC remains a family-owned and operated business with second and third generations of the McKenzie family at its leadership. Their family is truly devoted not only to its employees, their families and their customers, but also to the communities in which GSC Enterprises, Inc. serves.
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christ mas and New Years Day.
MENU:
Chicken Spaghetti
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread Slices
20 Minute Chocolate Cake
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices as flu and COVID are lurking in our midst! Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Como-Pickton FFA Makes Donation to the Veterans Memorial
December 10, 2024 – The Como-Pickton FFA made a significant donation Tuesday morning. The money will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the Veterans Memorial.
The group was able to raise the funds by auctioning off a handmade quilt. During the auction, the quilt was actually sold once, then donated back to be resold.
On hand to receive the check, for $4,350.00 was Clayton McGraw. McGraw is a local veteran and played a major role in the creation of the Veterans Memorial. When asked how he was doing, Clayton stated “At the age of 92, I’m happy to be anywhere.” The check was presented by Michael Bowen, FFA sponsor and Ag teacher at Como-Pickton High School.
Lydia Walden, Assistant Superintendent of Como-Pickton CISD, stated that “This FFA chapter has been involved with the Veterans Memorial for many years.”
The Lady Cats took on Brook Hill in Basketball Action on December 3rd
December 9, 2024 – The Sulphur Springs High School Lady Cats took on Brook Hill in basketball competition on December 3, 2024. The game was played in Wildcats Gym in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Be sure to check out KSST’s coverage of this exciting game below. KSST’s Sports Director John Mark Dempsey called Play by Play and Tony Flippin provided Color Commentary when he could.
Paris Junior College Asking for Community’s Help
December 9, 2024 – In the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary, Paris Junior College is asking the community to help determine the College’s direction over the next 10 years. The first step is a community survey, which will be followed by listening sessions in the community in early 2025.
“We are excited for the future of the college and we need your help with our strategic planning,” said Dr. Stephen Benson, PJC president. “That plan will set the goals and vision for the future of the college and what that will look like in 10 years.”
The survey seeks to learn more about what the community things of programs that should be offered, facilities needed to house those programs, and services that students need. Responses will feed into a larger strategic plan that includes facility planning, instructional planning, and finances needed to implement it.
Input is sought from all service area communities in Delta, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, and Red River counties, and the Fannindel and Honey Grove school districts in Fannin County.
The survey is available online at https://www.parisjc.edu/strategic-plan-survey.html. It takes only a few minutes to complete and responses are confidential. The survey will closed on January 10, 2025.
“Since arriving at Paris Junior College,” said Benson. “I have used the phrase ‘Together We Can’ and have explained that for us to continue and build on the success of PJC it will take all of us… that includes sharing your honest thoughts and opinions.”
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.
