Board of Regents Learn Paris Junior College Continues to Lead in Student Performance
Paris Junior College Board of Regents President Curtis Fendley gave a report on a recent Board of Trustees Institute at the monthly regent meeting held Monday, Sept. 27. The Texas Success Center sponsored the institute in Austin recently and Fendley, Regent Linda Kapp and PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin represented the College there.
“Our college is so far advanced in the Pathways Program compared with some colleges just getting started,” Fendley said, referencing an almanac distributed at the institute. “We’re at the pinnacle of advancing with Pathways. We are above on graduation rates and in our student success measures.”
While several Texas colleges have recently been finalists for the prestigious Aspen Award, Fendley added, PJC outperforms them statistically in many areas of student success.
We do rank very highly among our peer community colleges,” Fendley said.
Success in the community was also recognized over the weekend as PJC received the Gerald Bawcum Award for Community Service from the St. Joseph’s Community Foundation. PJC received the award for providing COVID-19 testing and early coordination and hosting of COVID-19 vaccination clinics to address community health needs. PJC also received a $2,500 donation with the award.
In other business the Regents:
• Voted to continue the formula for setting Continuing Education course tuition. The formula requires annual approval, and has demonstrated it gives the College flexibility to set individual fees based on the cost to offer each course.
• Approved continuation of the College’s mission statement for the next five years after internal review by faculty and the Administration. PJC’s mission statement is: “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.”
• Gave final approval to the 2021 tax rate of $0.0815 per $100 of valuation, down from $0.089 in 2020.
• Received a report on Fall 2021 enrollment showing a 1.13 percent decline from one year ago in contact hours and head count down 2.14 percent.
• Reviewed the responsibilities of the regents from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Section 4: Governing Board.
• Received a report on PJC’s Adult Education and Literacy Program. It has been five years since Texas moved adult education under the Texas Workforce Commission. According to Susan Sanchez, director of the program, the emphasis has grown from getting students their high school equivalency certificates and English as a Second language proficiency to include goals for workplace skills and college training.
• Learned during the President’s Report that PJC is pursuing workforce grants to enhance short-term skills training to meet local industry needs. The college is already offering a five-week course in Industry Readiness that will position those successfully completing it for entry-level jobs of $15-16 per hour and for advancing more rapidly. A GED or high school diploma is to sign up for the class, which is offered through PJC’s Continuing Education Department.
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.
Wildcats Cross Country Coach Talks Last Weekend’s Inaugural Wildcat Invitational
Wildcats cross country coach Ross Hicks said last weekend’s Wildcats Invitational, the first ever meet hosted by Sulphur Springs, went very well.
Several runners recorded personal record (PR) times, with Coach Hicks calling the Sulphur Springs meet a success.
The cross country coach said the ground was really flat and hard, allowing several runners to record some extremely fast times.
It would not be easy though as the Wildcat Invitational brought stiff competition in Pine Tree, Lufkin, Kaufman, Wylie East, Hallsville, and Texas High.
The top two runners stayed the same for Sulphur Springs on the Lady Cats; sophomore Haylee Schultz was the first runner for the Lady Cats crossing the finish line at 19:52.5 which got her the tenth spot in the 5K meet.
Freshman Jaicee Jasmer was not far behind Schultz with a time of 20:14.3. The second runner for the Lady Cats Jasmer was able to medal at 14th.
Sophomore Jazmin Yanez and senior Jolene Carpenter were the next runners from Sulphur Springs to cross the finish line at times of 22:51.6 and 22:56.5, good enough for 31st and 32nd, respectively.
Junior Rebekah Stanley came in at 37th for the final placement from the Lady Cats team.
The women’s team had a good enough outing to finish fourth in the tough cross country meet, finishing only behind Hallsville, Kaufman and Lufkin.
Moving over to the boys team, senior Jose Mejia had his best race ever, bar none, according to Coach Hicks.
Mejia finished only four seconds behind the first place runner from Kaufman, with a time of 16:15.4 that gave the senior a second place finish at the first ever Wildcat Invitational.
No other Wildcats would medal, but seniors Alex Flecker and Evan Patrick cracked the top-30 at 27th and 28th with times of 17:43.3 and 17:44.8, respectively.
Sophomore Erick Osornio finished at 40th with a time of 18:17 flat.
The last three runners to place for Sulphur Springs were Candelario Monsivais, Cristobal Torres and Jonathan Scott, who took the last three odd spots at the meet at 57th, 59th, and 61st.
The men did not fare as well as the Lady Cats, as the Wildcats placed seventh in a crowded field of stiff competition.
Regardless of how well his team performed last Saturday, Coach Hicks wished to thank SSISD administration for helping get the first ever Wildcat Invitational set up, and to all the fans who came out on Sept. 25 to cheer on the cross country squads.
Next up, Coach Ross Hicks and his program will no doubt look for similar or better results on Saturday when they travel out to Mt. Pleasant to take on the Tigers.
Races will have a rolling start come Saturday, Oct. 2, starting with the 5 and 6A women’s varsity runners, followed by the men in the same subdivisions at 8:30 A.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.
Local Committees for Visit of Vietnam Veterans ‘Wall That Heals’ Mobilizing Plans Including Yellow Ribbon Campaign
Committee meetings are currently being held to define and refine plans for one of the biggest events ever hosted in Hopkins County. THE WALL THAT HEALS is scheduled to arrive in Sulphur Springs, Texas during the first week of November so that Hopkins County can “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans.
In 2019, Mandy Kennedy proposed to members of the Hopkins County Veterans Committee that an application for hosting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial traveling exhibit and Mobile Education Center be pursued. She realized that Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County had a unique opportunity to be chosen for hosting a visit to our community by THE WALL THAT HEALS, a three-quarter sized replica of The Wall in Washington, D.C. It was important that the project plan include co-sponsorship by the City of Sulphur Springs and the Sulphur Springs Independent School District, as it would take a combined effort to make it happen. And indeed, out of hundreds of applicants, Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County was the ONLY city in Texas chosen for 2021, and the only site visit within the 10 southern states. Our community is special.
And now through the untiring efforts of the combined HCVM, SSISD, and City of Sulphur Springs. Committee, that community visit is now a reality and is only weeks away. The latest meeting, held on Tuesday September 28, 2021, in the Cross Room of The Roc, provided additional information and clarification on the numerous aspects of hosting THE WALL THAT HEALS, as well as the many volunteer opportunities soon to open up.
Individual citizens, families, organizations, business and industry are invited to take part in the Yellow Ribbon Campaign. now to set the mood and spirit for the visit, and to volunteer for a share in the many hands-on assignments required during the November 4-7 visit. Additionally, thousands of visitors from other cities and states are expected to arrive in Sulphur Springs to view The Wall That Heals and Mobile Education Center during those days. As is often said, “it takes a village”, so many hands and hearts are sure to be needed to accomplish the goal to “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans” right here in Hopkins County during this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Can you help? Will you volunteer? Contact Mandy Kennedy at 903-243-2206, any of the committee members, or visit the website at www.thewallthatheals-sstx.org.
Also attending were Phillip Gabbert, Joey Baker and Judge Robert Newsom
Mississippi Man Arrested On 2 Manslaughter Warrants In Connection With 2020 Fiery Crash That Killed 2 Boys
A 33-year-old man was arrested Wednesday at the District Court on 2 manslaughter warrants in connection with the 2020 fiery crash that killed 2 boys on Interstate 30 in Sulphur Springs.
Lidavin Zmontreal Truitt, his sister, another man and two nephews were reportedly traveling east on Interstate 30 east around 5 a.m. May 24, 2020, destined for Mississippi when the crash occurred.
Truitt is accused of stopping SUV he was driving in the middle of the traffic lane on I-30 east, just west of the Broadway Street overpass, during an argument with his sister. While the siblings argued on the side of the road, an eastbound 18-wheeler crashed into the SUV in the predawn light, causing the truck-tractor to overturn and the SUV to catch on fire with the woman’s boys still inside of it, police reported following the crash.
Truitt and the other male passenger of the SUV, and the truck-tractor driver were reportedly uninjured, while 7-year-old Joshua Zmontreal Kent and 9-year-old Jeremiah Irvin Kent Jr. of Shaw, Mississippi died. The boys’ mother was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hopkins County emergency room and later transferred to Baylor hospital in Plano for her injuries, which reportedly included burns. Truitt allegedly walked away from the crash without seeking help or reporting it.
Passenger Victor Hampton was taken into custody on Gilmer Street around 7:15 a.m. May 24 on a Bexar county credit or debit card abuse warrant.
Police investigators, following interviews with adults in the two crashed vehicles and extensive investigation, sought and had obtained by July 15, two warrants for Truitt’s arrest on 2 manslaughter charges, one for each of the boys. Officials were given a potential area in another state where Truitt was known to visit. Sulphur Springs police contacted authorities in that northern city but the man was not apprehended. Truitt has subsequently been indicted on the charges as well, police investigators noted.
Truitt reportedly returned to Hopkins County 16 months after the crash and was observed in district court. Truitt, who was shown in jail reports to have a Shaw, Mississippi address, was taken into arrested on the 2 manslaughter warrants, according to police.
The 33-year-old was released later Sep. 29, 2021, after securing the $50,000 bond, $25,000 per manslaughter charge, according to jail reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Ms. Texas Senior Classic State Pageant Names Vender Wright 2nd Runner Up
A royal evening was celebrated during the 2021 Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant held in Tyler, Texas on Saturday September 25th. Reigning Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Wilma Thompson was among the competitors. So was 2019 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Vender Wright, who was named Second Runner-Up. Here is a list of the ladies who were crowned, and some photos from the State Pageant, which celebrates the grace and beauty of the senior-age woman.
- 2021 Ms Texas Senior Classic Queen-Wilma Burke, Redwater
- 1st Runner Up-Ruth Morrow, Tyler
- 2nd Runner Up-Vender Wright, Sulphur Springs
- 3rd Runner Up-Melanie O’Quinn, Woodsboro
- 4th Runner Up-Barbara Price, Burleson
- 5th Runner Up- Johnnie Perryman, Fort Worth
Hopkins County Officials Seek Hazard Mitigation Assistance, Pandemic-Related Grant Funding
Hopkins County is submitting multiple hazard mitigation assistance grant applications, with County Judge Robert Newsom authorized as representative for DR-4586 (February’s winter storms) funding. Hopkins County Commissioners Court agreed to provide local matching funds required to secure and complete FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant projects, if the county’s requests are granted.
Beth Wisenbaker, local grants advisor, said entities are allowed to apply for Hazard Mitigation funds to help take care of drainage issues. Those approved for a hazard mitigation grant receive up to 75 percent of their funding request from the federal government and the grant recipient is responsible for the other 25 percent. Typically, these grants are for about $500,000.
“We’ve got a grant a grant out there right now requesting $1.8 [million], and we’ve received generators for a little bit of $300,000. It’s a preventative grant. You can also be proud to know that my salary comes from these grants. So, while it’s not local taxpayer dollars we want you guys to realize it is your taxpayer dollars. They’re just so far up the line you kind of forget about it,” Wisenbaker said.
“So we would be responsible for the 25 percent of the over $1 million you’ve applied for?” asked County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook during the regular Commissioners Court session Monday morning.
Wisenbaker affirmed the county would be responsible for 25 percent of the grant match, and the grant funding would cover drainage projects at five different locations, including one on Pipeline Road and some projects in Precinct 1 as well.
“Right now, we’ve been selected as an alternative. This was through a text message. This is not a hardcore letter. I don’t believe FEMA until they send us letters that have got somebody’s signature on it,” Wisenbaker said.
Often, the county is able to match quite a bit of their portion of the grant funding with in-kind labor. For instance, Wisenbaker said, when she serve in office as the Precinct 1 Commissioner, the contract noted the county would supply the labor then hired a contractor to do other more specialized tasks such as box culverts. While the county did have to pay a small amount, most of the county’s portion came from in-kind labor.
Additional FEMA funding entities may apply to receive have to do with the pandemic, and cover 100 percent of the cost.
A recent grant the county plans to apply for would provide a mobile trailer with the most recent technology, which could be driven to rural areas to supply vaccinations or virus or other medical testing at schools or large community events, bringing the necessary medical technology to residents instead of making residents travel into town where they are offered at other locations
“It’s a wonderful facility. It will be with the most recent technical equipment that we can put in it,” Wisenbaker noted. “And that one is 100 percent.”
“We’re still trying to get the final numbers on it. We’ve actually visited the plant. They are a sole source provider because of a tent system that we can connect to this trailer to make it even larger. So it’ll be a sole proprietor vendor on that side of it,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley noted.
The vendor builds “all the NASCAR and professional drag race trailers.” The trailer that would be constructed for Hopkins County, Endsley said, should last for quite a while – “hopefully, 25 years plus” or longer. The trailer would be available not only for Hopkins County Emergency Management use but would be available regionally for surrounding counties, law enforcement, EMS and fire department uses.
“I’d like to commend former commissioner Wisenbaker for all the work she’s done throughout this process. From beginning to end, she’s been right there. She’s taken a tremendous load off of me to do this, Shannah as well,” Endsley said.
Aulsbrook concurred that Wisenbaker’s work has take on quite a bit of work that would have fallen to her office as well, and extended her thanks to the local grants advisor. Endsley
“You guys are very welcome. You know after having worked with me for many years, 20 years that I was here, there’s nothing better I better than making the system work for the people that we serve. So, that’s why I am here. I’m here to use the right words and stuff to make sure the courts’ decisions, that we can get the best money for our buck,” Wisenbaker said.
Abundant Community Generosity To 2019-2020 United Way Campaign Benefits Community Chest
Hopkins County Community Chest this week reaped the benefit of the community support of Hopkins County United Way.
“Thanks to our generous donors, Hopkins County United Way is very proud to present an excess allocation payment in the amount of $16,197.54 to Community Chest from the 2019-2020 Hopkins County United Way campaign. This amount is in addition to excess allocation payments made in July to 16 Hopkins County non-profit organizations supported by the 2019-2020 campaign. Excess allocation payment made from the 2019-2020 campaign total $33,729.01,” HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning explained.
HCUW presented Community Chest with the $16,197.54 check on Sept. 28, 202. The money will go toward Community Chest’s goals of helping county residents who are at or below the poverty level meet basic needs of food and shelter, medical and dental care. In 2020, Community Chest helped 1,560 individuals.
The 2021-2022 HCUW campaign to raise $150,000 to benefit 18 local nonprofit organizations is currently in progress. For additional information about the current campaign, HCUW or previous campaigns, call or text 903-243-4066. Donations may be made through your place of work; mailed to PO Box 735, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483-0735; handed to any HCUW officer, board member or campaign worker; on the Hopkins County United Way Facebook page; call or text HCUW campaign headquarters, 903-243-4066.
CHRISTUS Covid Testing Offered Weekdays by Appointment Only
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs is offering a Testing COVID Drive-Thru Testing Clinic for people who need or want to be tested for COVID but are unable to find a clinic or provider available. This may be due to their Primary Care Physician not having openings, or the Urgent Care is full with an extremely long wait time. To take advantage of the COVID testing, you must schedule an appointment by phone. Walk-ins are not accepted.
See below for information on the Sulphur Springs COVID Drive-Thru Testing Clinic.
- CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care in Sulphur Springs is now scheduling patients who are unable to schedule an office or urgent care visit for COVID testing.
- Schedule an appointment by calling 903-885-3181, then press option 0.
- We will open the schedule daily by 8:30 a.m. depending on staffing availability for the COVID drive through.
- Current tentative available times for testing are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- Come to the parking lot of 100 Medical Circle at your scheduled appointment time and remain in your vehicle. Someone will be out shortly to check the patient in and begin the appointment.
- Patients are required to sign up for a MyChart account.
- Results of COVID testing will be available to patients via MyChart.
Technical Destination Imagination Team Winners
The Technical Destination Imagination Team had an amazing season this past year. They received 1st place at Regional Competition, 3rd place at the State Level, and then 3rd place in Globals. At Globals, they were competing against 50 teams from all over the world. This team is coached by Bryan Cole and Kelly Shutt and consists of 7 SSMS students from all three grades. The team members are Brody Emmert, Nathan Bilyeu, Sawyer Shutt, Tyler Scott, Isaac Riley, Cara Batterton, and Hannah Speed.
The 2020-2021 DI Competitions were Virtual this year, so the team had to use technical methods in a story involving a video game. They were required to do all filming, editing, planning, and building independently.
All of the SSMS Destination Imagination teams (6) advanced to State Competition this year, and 2 advanced to Globals. It was a great DI Season and we are looking forward to an in-person competition season for 2021-2022!
Smith Appointed Interim CEO Of Hospital District While Search For Next Executive Continues
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors Tuesday afternoon appointed Brent Smith to serve as interim CEO while the search for a new financial executive continues.
HCHD Board voted unanimously, following an executive session at the end of the Sept. 28, 2021 meeting, to appoint Smith to serve as chief executive officer for the hospital district.
Smith served in a leadership capacity for the hospital district as director of EMS operations since July 2007. The HCHD board on Sept. 17, 2019, changed the district’s management structure, appointing Brent Smith as chief operating officer and director of EMS, and Ron Folwell as chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
Folwell was a public accountant for about 20 years and had served as CFO for several organizations for 20 years before being appointed hospital district administrator in October of 2016, when the hospital district entered into the joint venture with CHRISTUS Health and had to establish a new administrative operation after CHRISTUS assumed operational management of the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. Folwell recently submitted his notice of retirement as CEO/CFO, which was officially accepted by HCHD Board at a special Sept. 14 hospital district meeting, hospital district representatives said Wednesday morning.
In addition to his duties as director for EMS services for Hopkins, Delta, Franklin and Rains counties and chief operating officer for HCHD, Smith has been very active and held leadership positions in Texas EMS circles as well, including serving as president of the Texas EMS Alliance, chairman of the board of directors of the Northeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, and task force leader for the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force which provides medical response during disasters More recently, his regional and state affiliations have meant deployments to help coordinate and provide assistance in evacuating residents during flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes across the state and region, and COVID-19 related response services across the state as well.
Resumes are being accepted by the hospital district for candidates for a new CEO/CFO. The individual should be an accountant with enough CFO experience end expertise to effectively steer the hospital district, which oversees not only Hopkins County EMS, but also financials for half a dozen nursing homes in other cities, as well as some rental properties.
Interested candidates may submit information or contact the HCHD headquarters at 903-438-4446 or 1321 North Davis St., in the same building as Hopkins County EMS; or HCHD Board President Kerry Law for additional information.
