Opening Ceremony for the Sulphur Springs Visit of The Wall That Heals
Erected on the Sulphur Springs High School track, the 375-foor-long Wall That Heals provided a reflective backdrop for the Opening Ceremony of the much-anticipated visit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall replica. The display will be open 24 hours a day November 4th through 7th for visitors. At 2 p.m. Sunday, November 7, the Wall and Mobile Education Center will depart Sulphur Springs for it’s next visit somewhere in America. There is no cost to visit The Wall That Heals or the Mobile Education Center.
Event Organizer Mandy Kennedy thanks donor Carol Gunn Vernon for her generous donation which enabled the visit from The Wall That Heals 
Judge Newsom read the names of Hopkins County soldiers killed in Vietnam 
Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers welcomes the audience 
A representative from US Congressional District 4 Rep. Pat Fallon’s office addresses the crowd 
Dena Loyd assisted Mandy Kennedy during months of planning for the event 
Kelley Fletcher played Taps 
Hopkins County Civil Air Patrol posted the Colors 
Keynote Speaker Capt. Chuck Lawrence, Vietnam Veteran 
Sargeant served as The Riderless Horse 
The stands were filled with local veterans and their families 
Wrapped against the cool breeze, Mrs. Carol Gunn Vernon was Underwriter for The Wall That Heals
Schedule, King and Queen Nominees Announced for 2021 Paris Junior College Homecoming
“PJC in the 1980s” is the theme for this year’s Homecoming festivities at Paris Junior College set for November 4-6. After a final round of voting by students, the Homecoming Court is set as well. Members include Rylie Hardison of Mt. Pleasant, Da’May Jones of Houston, Baylee Metcalfe of Sand Springs, Okla., Jessika Roberts of Forney, Beau Brewer of McKinney, and Nathaniel Windham of Pickton.
Hardison is a 2020 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. She is from Mount Pleasant, Texas and the daughter of Rachelle Hardison. She is a returning member of the PJC Dragon Cheerleaders and serves as captain this year. After PJC, Rylie plans on transferring to the University of North Texas and majoring in Psychology as well as trying out for the UNT dance team.
Jones is a 2018 graduate of Milby High School in Houston, Texas and is the son of Sean Jones and Christina Cartwright. He is a returning member of the Dragons Men’s Basketball Team and Vice President of the Student Government Association. He was the 2020-21 Most Valuable Player for Men’s Basketball. After PJC, Da’May will pursue his dream of becoming a professional basketball player, and then work towards a career in coaching or physical therapy.
Metcalfe is a 2020 graduate of Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and the niece of Wayne Metcalfe. She began playing soccer at age 4 and competitively at 10, is a returning player on the Dragons Women’s Soccer Team and a member of the Student Government Association. She plans to continue her soccer career at a university and pursue a degree for a future career in a medical field.
Roberts is a 2020 graduate of Forney High School in Forney, Texas. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Harrell. A returning member of the Dragon’s Softball Team, she earned Second Team All-Conference Outfielder for the 2020-2021 season. She actively volunteers at the Downtown Food Pantry along with her teammates. Jessika plans to continue her softball career at a four-year university and become a nurse practitioner.
Brewer is a 2020 graduate of McKinney Boyd High School in McKinney, Texas and the son of Scott and Sheri Brewer. He is a returning player on the Dragons Baseball Team, named a 2020-2021 All-Region Outfielder, was named to the President’s and Dean’s Lists, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. After PJC, he plans on furthering his academic and baseball career at Western Kentucky University.
Windham is a 2016 graduate of Como-Pickton High School in Pickton, Texas. He is the son of Rebecca Jourdan. He is an active member of the Beta Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society, and is pursuing prerequisites for the radiology program at PJC. He hopes to become a radiology technologist.
Activities begin on Thursday, November 4, with the Student Government Association sponsored parade at 4 p.m. Floats and decorated vehicles will line up along South Collegiate Drive and proceed up Clarksville Street to 12th Street S.E., over to Lamar Avenue, around the downtown plaza and back to the College. Immediately following the parade a pep rally will be held in the Hunt Center.
Friday, Nov. 6 is headlined with the President’s Reception hosted by Dr. Pamela Anglin from 5:30 until 7 p.m. in the McLemore Student Center Ballroom. Alumni, friends, and retired and current faculty have the opportunity to enjoy refreshments while reliving PJC memories.
The weekend celebration continues on Saturday with the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon at Love Civic Center at 11:30 a.m. Honorees include Brad Hutchison, Class of 1964 and Lynn Patterson, Class of 1974. Tickets for the luncheon are $25 and may be purchased through the office of Institutional Advancement/Alumni Affairs, 903-782-0276 or [email protected].
Saturday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Hall of Fame Room in the Hunt Center will be open to alumni wishing to view the exhibits and enjoy refreshments. The College bookstore will also be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those wishing to buy Dragons hats, t-shirts and other athletic gear.
The women’s basketball team plays Connors State College at 4 p.m. and the men’s basketball team takes on Grayson College at 6 p.m. The King and Queen crowning will be held during halftime of the men’s game in the Hunt Center.
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.
TxDOT Urges Drivers to ‘End the Streak’ of Daily Deaths on Texas Roads as 21st Anniversary Approaches
| November 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways |
Nov. 4, 2021
AUSTIN – It was late in the afternoon when Isaac Simmons got the call: a vehicle was broken down along a stretch of I-45 in Fairfield, and Simmons, a 35-year-old tow truck driver, headed out to help.
While winching the car onto his tow truck, the routine stop suddenly became horrific. A speeding car careened off the road, rolled up the tow truck’s sliding bed and flew through the air. The airborne car slammed into Simmons. Two days later he died, making him one of more than 3,200 people who have been killed on Texas roads so far in 2021.
“He was one of the best men I’ve ever known. He always wanted to make everybody smile,” said Nathan Bryant, a fellow tow truck driver who considered Simmons a brother. “Sometimes it can be a little dicey out there because nobody moves over, nobody slows down. They don’t care about human life on the side of the road.”
On Nov. 7 Texas marks 21 years of daily deaths on state roadways with more than 75,000 innocent lives lost to preventable fatal crashes. For the past several years, about 10 people have died every day in crashes in the state. During the height of the pandemic when traffic dropped nearly 50 percent, the death rate climbed to more than 11 a day, shocking state transportation leaders.
Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan, a champion for road safety and TxDOT’s #EndTheStreakTX campaign, said every Texan must do their part. And while the goal of ending the deadly streak is ambitious, Ryan said, it is far from impossible.
“We stick with it. We keep telling the story. We fight back when people say personal responsibility is not a thing. It is. And we don’t give up,” Ryan said. “I am hopeful that it will happen sooner than later, but I am confident that it will happen.”
Most crashes and fatalities are preventable and caused by things such as speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving. That’s why the approach to reaching zero deaths must be through what TxDOT calls the 3 E’s – engineering, education and enforcement. That way, everyone has a responsibility to keep our roads and fellow drivers safe.
Because #EndTheStreakTX is a grassroots word-of-mouth and social media effort, Texans are asked to do any or all the following to help raise awareness:
- Make the best and safest decisions behind the wheel and encourage others to do the same.
- Post pictures on social media with this downloadable sign displaying the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX.
- Share personal stories on social media of loved ones who have been lost in a crash and use the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX.
- Follow @txdot social media pages and share posted content.
Industrial Drive Closed From Commercial Services Drive To Bill Bradford Road
Industrial Drive was closed to traffic and operations at Saputo reportedly halted Thursday afternoon due to the presence of natural gas in the area. The contractor boring under I-30 to connecting the final piece of the Saputo sewer main project reportedly hit the gas main, according to the city manager.
First, the far right westbound lane of Industrial Drive was closed where crews had dug in the soil and the presence of a gas odor was detected. Around 3 p.m. Nov. 4, 2021, the odor had intensified and police soon arrived to completely shutting down Industrial Drive just east of the Bill Bradford Road exit off I-30 west, routing traffic north onto Commercial Service Drive to Como Street. Industrial Drive continued to be shut down from there to the Bill Bradford Road underpass. Additional emergency truck had cordoned off with yellow tape a section of the Saputo parking lot closest to Industrial Drive as Atmos, firefighters, city and company employees worked to try to stem the natural gas flow and repair the problem.
At 3:40 p.m., the city manager confirmed the contractor hit a gas main. Saputo operations, he was told and reported, were shut down. That area of Industrial Drive continued to be closed at 4 p.m. Thursday. Workers from Saputo were seen exiting a few at a time. A few had walked across the street to the old VF Outlet parking lot to wait.
Those traveling in the area should plan an alternate route of travel until the road can be reopened.
Extension Hosts Pesticide Private Applicator Class Hosted At Civic Center
Texas A&M University-Commerce Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources Department representatives were also on hand with information as well. The Texas A&M AgriLife-Hopkins County office hosted a 5-CEU pesticide private applicator session on Nov. 3, 2021 at Hopkins County Civic Center.
The utilization of regulated herbicides is regulated and allowed to be used by pesticide private applicators. Private applicators are required to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to maintain their licenses. Regulated herbicides are designated by the Texas Department of Agriculture. If used as directed or in accordance with widespread and commonly recognized practice, these herbicides require additional restrictions to prevent a hazard to desirable vegetation caused by drift or an uncontrolled application.
Texas A&M University-Commerce Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources Department representatives (below) were also on hand with information as well.
Hopkins County United Way Within $40,000 Of Goal, With 1 Week To Go In 2021-22 Campaign
Hopkins County United Way 2021-22 campaign workers received another $25,158.42 in campaign donations and pledges over the last week, increasing the total collected after the fifth week of the campaign to $110,441.57. That’s leaves a little over $39,500 still to go if HCU to meet the $150,000 campaign goal to benefit 18 local non-profits.
HCUW Campaign Chair Kristy Moseley encourages those who still have donation packets out, to make a final push this week so the 2021-22 campaign can wrap up as scheduled on Nov. 9, with all allocations collected.
Bill Owens contributed another check to HCUW on behalf of Jay Hodge Chevrolet, which contributed $100 to HCUW for every vehicle sold. He reported the dealership had met it’s goal of $10,000 for HCUW.
Daniel Tapia with CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs could not be at the Nov. 3, 2021, meeting, but reported an additional $1,084 additional pledges coming from the hospital, and anticipated being at the final meeting on Nov. 9 to present funding pledges and donations from the CHRISTUS associates.
In the past, Hopkins County Bankers Clearinghouse has provided the supplies and hosted a burger fundraiser, where people can donate to receive a meal and fellowship with others downtown. The Bankers Clearinghouse then donates the proceeds to HCUW. The Bankers Clearinghouse – which is a collaboration of Alliance, City National and Guaranty bands – is dissolving and opted this year not to hold the fundraisers. The organization this year, not only gave their usual donation, but also very generously contributed remaining balance in the Bankers Clearinghouse account to HCUW.
HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning noted Atmos Energy Manager of Public Affairs Beth Dattomo is not only a campaign worker for Hopkins County, but is also very active and serves as the United Way Board President y is board president of the for Hunt County.
Berning reported HCUW had received a great pledge and donation from the local Ocean Spray plant, which has been selected as the number one plant, not just domestically but, in all of Ocean Spray.
This week’s contributors included several organizations, businesses and individuals who generously gave at the requested goal or above to ensure those 18 agencies, which serve all populations and segments of the community, receive the amount allocated from the 2021-22 campaign. Contributors during Week 5 of the campaign included Jim McLeroy, who contributes not only as a local attorney, but give extra as the city attorney as well; Hopkins County Appraisal; Oliver Ford, Northeast Texas Farmers Co-Op; Farm Country; One Stop Sign Shop; Appraisal Firm of East Texas; County Commissioners Greg Anglin and Mickey Barker, Fire Marshal Andy Endsley, Treasurer Danny Davis and Civic Center staff; District Judge Eddie Northcutt, Juvenile and Adult Probation Offices; Leather and Blades barber shop, a new business; Briley’s Barber shop, under new ownership; Wayne Cooper Construction; Highlander Training Center, contributing about 200 percent of goal; Audley Moore Construction, giving about 150 percent of goal; Miller Grove ISD; Como-Pickton CISD, well exceeded goal; Flip’s Burgerland; Haystacks/Maak; Robinson Bennett Construction; CANHelp Thrift Store, way over the goal; Broadway Veterinary Clinic; Rock Bar, Rocki Hoops; Sulphur Springs Veterinary Clinic; Yard By Yard; Janeen’s Country Cottage; April Showers; Judy Jones 7 Oaks Ranch; Mothers Culture Club; Cumby ISD; Shoe Inn, Fieldhouse Sports; Sulphur Springs Floral; State Farm Julia Wilhite, which includes a generous State Farm Corporate match as well; Financial Solutions; Guaranty Band and Trust, employees and corporate; Tire Town; J-B Weld; and Gregg Price Law Firm.
Berning pointed out that donations from several local industries, businesses and supporters who faithfully provide generous donations to HCUW annually have yet to come in, but are expected next week, including contributions still being tallied from Sulphur Springs ISD employees, Grocery Supply Co., Flowserve, Alliance Bank, City National Bank, and several others.
The campaign members brought pompons and bell to the meeting to cheer and ring, celebrating each donation announced, as every penny contributed gets the campaign closer to meeting this year’s $150,000 goal, which provide funding to agencies that provide essential services for local residents, including abused and neglected children, domestic abuse victims; food, basic essential and medical assistance for those less financially fortunate in the community, as well as enrichment programs for children and the community.
All campaign workers are invited to attend the final HCUW meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, where the campaign officers, board and volunteers hope to be able to cheer in celebration of meeting the 2021-22 campaign goal.
Cash or Check donations may also be mailed from individual contributors to HCUW Campaign Headquarters, at PO Box 735, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483. Donations may also be made online via PayPal or debit/credit card by clicking “Make A Donation” link on the Hopkins County United Way website, https://hcuw.org/, or selecting the Shop Now button on the Hopkins County United Way Facebook page
Questions may be directed to Berning by phone call or text at 903-243-4066.
Thursday Game Day Brings Wildcats Football Finale in Forney Against the Falcons
Normally the Wildcats football team are the marquee game on Friday game day, but due to Forney and North Forney sharing a football stadium and thus having to block schedule games, this week brings the Wildcats football team having their game day on Thursday.
Tonight’s game in Forney versus the Falcons is the regular-season finale for both teams.
Sulphur Springs comes in to tonight’s final game of the 2021 season still looking to get their first win on the season, but have been in every single one of their last four contests.
The Wildcats have had leads throughout almost all of those loses, but various consistency issues have plagued Coach Greg Owens’s squad.
Last week, on senior night at the Prim, Sulphur Springs led a minute in to the fourth quarter, but special teams gaffs put the Wildcats in a hole and they ended up falling to a playoff-bound Forney, 37-28.
They will have a good chance to get their first win on the season when they travel to Forney tonight to take on North Forney.
The Falcons are a rebuilding program. Under first-year head coach Eric Luster the team won their season opener but has not won a game since.
North Forney has been competitive in their last two contests, falling to Corsicana by nine and losing by 10 last Friday in Greenville.
The Falcons will be hosting senior night on this Thursday game day as it is their final game on the regular season, so even though they are in the same boat at Sulphur Springs looking to get their first win in district, North Forney will put up a good fight.
The final game on the fall 2021 season for the Wildcats kicks off tonight at Forney City Bank at 7 P.M.
That game will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM. It will also be live-streamed on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
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.
Doin’ It in Style! 2021 DBA Heritage Car Show Saturday November 6 Downtown Sulphur Springs
Final preparations are being set in place for November 6, 2021 by the members of the Downtown Business Alliance to stage the Heritage Car Show, an annual main event on Celebration Plaza. Much pre-show labor is involved for members in setting up and moving barriers, issuing placement to the vehicles as they arrive, and getting the vehicles parked and situated properly around the Plaza. The Car Show has long been a popular attraction for Sulphur Springs, a major fundraiser for the DBA, and a fun, well-organized go-to contest for car-lovers of this region of Texas. In their invitation to car owners to register for the 2021 event, it was explained that the show is open to vehicles 1987 or older, registration would be open from September 1 to October 16, and that the first 50 entries would receive one Car Show T-shirt and a Dash Plaque. And more than 50 entries are expected for this year’s show! They will fill the Plaza with color, class and style! And, excellent Fall weather is also expected!
Plan to be downtown on Saturday November 6 to view all the beautiful specimens, meet the owners and see who the winners will be. Also, plan to shop, eat and enjoy the sights of beautiful downtown Sulphur Springs, the Veterans Memorial and the Hopkins County Courthouse.
An additional local attraction on Saturday November 6 will be the Vietnam Veterans Parade which will cross the square at 3:35 pm Saturday afternoon. And, an exclusive visit by ‘The Wall That Heals’ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will be going on in Sulphur Springs November 4-7, 2021. All 375 feet of the amazing, authentic display will be set up at the Sulphur Springs High School track at 1200 Houston Street, open 24 hours a day and free to all visitors. The unique Sulphur Springs stop is the only Texas site-visit this Fall for the 3/4 size replica. It was created to “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans”, fifty years after the war, and an accompanying Mobile Education Center is also part of the free tour. Visitors are expected for many Texas cities and from neighboring states to visit “The Wall That Heals” in Sulphur Springs during the weekend of November 4-7, 2021.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Oct. 25-31, 2021
Arrests
- Kris Zavalla, 28 years of age, of Quitman, was arrested on Oct. 26, 2021, on a Tarrant County warrant for theft of a firearm.
- Gary Nichols, 40 years of age, of Kilgore, was arrested on Oct. 27, 2021, for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
- Joshua Dunn, 20 years of age, of Mount Vernon, was arrested on Oct. 31, 2021 driving while intoxicated.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 178 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 32 citations and 58 warnings during this reporting period.
Chamber Connection: Wall That Heals, Car Show, Mabel’s Foundation, Miracles Made On Connally, Turkey Trot
By Butch Burney
The Wall That Heals, the Vietnam Veterans replica memorial, will be in Sulphur Springs Nov. 4-7, at the Sulphur Springs High School track. The three-quarter sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., along with a Mobile Education Center, arrived in Sulphur Springs on Tuesday, escorted by Patriot Guard Riders, law enforcement, and fire department personnel.
This year 2021 has been nationally designated as the year to “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans,” and The Wall That Heals will help do that.
It will be open 24 hours a day during its time in Sulphur Springs, so make time to visit the memorial and welcome the thousands of visitors who will be in Hopkins County this week!
Facebook: The Wall That Heals, Sulphur Springs, TX
The Sulphur Springs Public Library will host an Items Left Behind display Nov. 8-19, which will feature artifacts left by visitors.
Car Show
The Heritage Square Car Show is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6, rain or shine. The show, sponsored by the Downtown Business Alliance, will be held downtown for vehicles model 1987 or older. Awards will be presented at 3 p.m.
For more information, email [email protected].
Mabel’s Foundation
Mabel’s Foundation, a Mexican children’s refuge, will have its second Annual Trade School Dinner to support Nuevo Progreso Trade Schools from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Lake Fork Baptist Church in Alba. Lasagna with all the fixings will be served, and an offering will be taken at the door. Carry out or sit down is available.
You can call 605-431-9654 ahead of time.
Miracles Made on Connally Street
Miracles Made on Connally Street is the name of the CASA Christmas Tree Raffle that will be conducted until Dec. 6. The raffle will be held Dec. 8, with all proceeds benefitting the children served by Lake Country CASA.
Tickets are $25 each and each tickets gives you a chance to win one of 12 small decorated Christmas trees.
For more information, call 903-885-1173 or visit CASA at 218 Connally St.
Turkey Trot
Make way for your holiday meals by participating in the 11th Annual Hopkins County Turkey Trot, benefiting Journey Road Ministries and Mothers Culture Club. It will be ran Thanksgiving Day morning, with a 5K and 10K each starting at 8 a.m. There will be a Kids Run Run at 7:30 a.m.
Entry fee for the 5K race is $30 and for the 10K race it’s $40. Register online at GetMeRegistered.com and search “Hopkins County Turkey Trot. Early registration ends Nov. 10.
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Nov. 3, Bell Concrete. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cuttings
- Masterpiece Ultrasound Boutique will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 468 Shannon Road West. We hope you will join us for the event.
- G5 Cattle Company, located at 3445 Interstate 30 West, will have its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 13. Stop by and get some of their incredible Wagyu beef or have it delivered to your door.
- NexLink hosted a ribbon cutting at noon Wednesday, Oct. 27, at their office at 249 Heritage Court. We hope you will welcome them to our community.
