Learning Math on the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
LEARNING MATH
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Mathematics Instructor Charla Holzbog helps student Hector Martinez of Sulphur Springs during a recent class. For information about enrolling at the Center, 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.
Wildcats Head Coach Greg Owens Discusses Ennis Loss and Upcoming Royse City
After a tough loss in Ennis to the Lions on Friday, Sept. 24, the Wildcats football team were ready for their one bye of the fall 2021 season.
It could not have come at a better time, as Sulphur Springs was a bit banged up and needed a breather which was conveniently sandwiched in between two top-10 teams in 5A Division II that the Wildcats had to play in district.
On Sept. 24 the Wildcats travelled to Ennis and took on the number four team in 5A Division II. Sulphur Springs got behind early and could not recover, losing to a top five Lions team 47-14.
“We’ve gotta have better starts,” Coach Greg Owens said about the Ennis loss and getting behind early. “[The Wildcats] have to take care of things earlier,” the Sulphur Springs coach said.
Coach Owens said this is something that was addressed this week leading up to their Royse City district bout.
The Wildcats did mange to get in to the end zone twice in the fourth quarter in loss to Ennis thanks to CJ Williams running out of the Wildcat and QB Matthew Mitchell connecting with Weston Fields on a fade-route that went 56-yards to the end zone.
Coach Greg Owens’ program is still looking for their first win on the season, but like many other contests it will not be an easy go of it.
RC coach David Petroff said that the Wildcats’ record [0-5 overall (0-2 district)] is a bit misleading considering the opponents Sulphur Springs has gone up against:
- Frisco High — 5-0 (Not ranked)
- Lovejoy — 5-0 (#3 in 5A Divison II)
- Kaufman — 6-0 (#10 in 4A Division I)
- Crandall — 4-1 (NR)
- Ennis — 5-0 (#4 in 5A Division II)
- Royse City — 5-0 (NR)
The Wildcats’ opponents are a combined 30-1 through six games. All rankings above are according to Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football.
That statistic includes the Royse City Bulldogs, who come in to tomorrow night’s contest undefeated [5-0 overall (2-0 district)] and are fresh off of a bye as well.
All teams in District 8-5A had a bye last weekend.
Royse City, this week’s opponent for Sulphur Springs, runs a methodical, run-heavy attack that they bring to Gerald Prim stadium tonight.
The Wildcats football head coach said the Bulldogs have an offense that is approximately 75% based on the ground.
“They hang their hat on the run,” Coach Owens said.
The Bulldogs feature a running back, #1 Champ Petty-Dozier, who is extremely explosive and fast, the Wildcats coach said. Coach Owens said Royse City loves to get the ball to Petty-Dozier in any way they can, so look for the offense to more or less to run through the RB for the Bulldogs.
And while Royse City will continuously pound it on the ground versus opponents, their quarterback, Kenneth Springs, can slice and dice defenses if need be.
Coach Owens said to look out for zone-read plays from the QB since it has been extremely successful for the Bulldogs.
The offensive line is tough and physical for Royse City, a necessity for a run-heavy attack.
On defense Royse City brings a 3-3-5 stack defense, and they are just as physical as their OL. Their nose guard, #56 Keiran Phounsavath is the anchor for the base-stack defense.
Coach Petroff’s D runs to the football and are well-disciplined and structured, the Wildcats coach said.
The defense likes to keep everything in front of them, allowing opposing offenses certain plays and yardage, but Coach Owens said OC Matt Young’s unit has to take advantage of those short-yard plays and be patient.
Coach Owens said the Bulldogs are a well-oiled machine that runs a great system featuring several talented athletes who know their role in that Bulldog system.
It should prove to be another good one as both teams come into the game well-rested and ready for the second half of the fall 2021 season.
The Wildcats-Bulldogs district match-up is set to begin tomorrow at 7:30 P.M.
That game will be both live-streamed on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channeland will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM as well.
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.
Tira News – Oct. 7, 2021: North Hopkins Alumni Homecoming Returns On Oct. 23, 2021
By Jan Vaughn
Carol Robinson passed away and a graveside service was held at the Tira Cemetery on Monday, October 4th at the Tira Cemetery. Carol was the wife of Allen Robinson. Please remember the family in prayer.
Billy George Taylor, son of the late Omer and Gertrude Taylor of Tira, passed away and there will be a graveside service at the Tira Cemetery on Monday, October 11, at 11 a.m. Many in the area will remember Mrs. Gertrude from her many years of teaching at North Hopkins School. Please pray for the family.
The North Hopkins Alumni Association would like to encourage all former students and faculty to attend the North Hopkins Alumni Homecoming on Saturday evening, October 23, in the school cafeteria from 5 to 8 p.m. Since there was no homecoming in 2020, the classes of 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, and 1990, 1991 will be honored for their 50-, 40-, and 30-year class reunion. The North Hopkins Culinary Arts department will be serving a delicious meal. Also, there will be Bingo and prizes! The cost is $15 per person. Please help spread the word.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Ordinance Establishing Reinvestment Zone For $4 Million J-B Weld Expansion Approved
Sulphur Springs City Council approved on first reading Ordinance No. 2791, establishing an industrial reinvestment zone for J-B Weld, LLC, located at 400 CMH Road, just off West Industrial Drive in the Pioneer Business Park. J-B Weld is expanding its building and adding employees.
The reinvestment zone is needed in order for J-B Weld to be able to attain a tax incentive from Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors, which can grant the incentive but doesn’t have the ability to create a reinvestment zone, which must be established in order for the board to consider granting the tax incentive, Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley explained when making the recommendation for approval.
During a Sept. 13 meeting, Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved a Chapter 381 Economic Development Program Agreement with J-B Weld, LLC.
The business, which had a 2020 ad valorem taxable value of just over $4.7 million, has committed to investing $4 million to expand its epoxy glue manufacturing business with construction of a 40,000 square-foot facility on the 12.24-acre tract of land, with the project to be completed by June 30, 2022, according to the ED Program agreement. This will allow J-B Weld to add 20 new fulltime positions, giving the business a total of 102 fulltime employees, which the company agreed to maintain the duration of the Chapter 381 agreement. J-B Weld agreed to a 5-year program instead of the usual 10 year program agreement with the county.
Beginning Dec. 31, 2021 and continuing each year for 5 years, Hopkins County, per the 381 agreement, will reimburse J-B Weld for 100 percent of county ad valorem taxes paid on the new addition. J-B Weld in turn agreed to maintain its current workforce of at least 82 fulltime employees during construction, then 102 after the new addition is complete. J-B Weld in exchange agreed to annually provide a report showing verification of the full-time employment requirement as well as the taxable value of the property beginning Dec. 31, 2021.
Another public hearing regarding the J-B Weld reinvestment zone, approved on first reading Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 by the Sulphur Springs City Council for J-B Weld, LLC, will be conducted during the Nov. 2 council meeting, slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building.
Ordinance No. 2791 establishing the reinvestment zone for J-B Weld will be read on second and, if approved by the City Council, final reading at that November City Council meeting. The reinvestment zone would become effective immediately on Nov. 2, 2021, and continuing for five years, with an option to renew it for an additional five years, or to terminate sooner if a subsequent ordinance regarding the zone is passed.
About J-B Weld
The J-B Weld Company was founded in 1969 by Sam and Mary Bonham. Sam had discovered a need for a “cold weld” product to use in his truck service garage, instead of traditional torch welding. Working with a Texas A&M chemist, he formulated an original “tougher than steel” two-part epoxy and named it J-B Weld. Sam and Mary soon went from selling the product out of their car to auto parts jobbers across Texas, to selling it in stores throughout the U.S. and internationally.
The latest chapter of the J-B Weld story began in 2008, when the company was purchased by a group of private investors led by Chip Hanson, who now serves as CEO and president. In just a few years’ time, J-B Weld broadened the product line to meet the changing needs of our customers, including new adhesives for metal, wood, plastic, and general purpose use. With each new product J-B Weld innovates – whether epoxy putty sticks, syringe-based epoxy adhesives, threadlockers, or specialty products, J-B Weld continues to provide the world’s strongest bond for your repair projects. The company also expanded its retail partnerships to reach even more customers.
Today, J-B Weld products can be found in some of the world’s largest automotive, hardware, home improvement, and big-box stores nationwide. For a complete list of retailers, go to the J-B Weld locations page.
25th Anniversary Celebration ‘Part 1’ at Cooper Lake State Park on October 15 is for Everyone!
You are cordially invited to Cooper Lake State
Park’s 25th Anniversary Ceremony to be held at the
Doctor’s Creek Unit on Friday, October 15, 2021 at
10am. We will have an outstanding group of local,
regional, and statewide leaders present to talk
about Cooper Lake State Park’s local and regional
impact on our great state! Refreshments will be
served. This event is sponsored by the Friends of
Doctors Creek. Special thanks to Cooper ISD and North Hopkins ISD
Agenda
Welcome – Steve Killian, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, Cooper Lake State Park Complex Superintendent
Presentation of the Colors by Civil Air Patrol, Sulphur Springs
The National Anthem by Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD
Texas, and ‘Our Texas’ by Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD and
Matt Seavey, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Manager
Darren Braddy – City of Cooper, Texas, City Mayor
“Deep in the Heart of Texas”, Enola Gay Mathews
History of Cooper Lake State Park, Mindy Hicks, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department, Cooper Lake State Park, Doctor Creek Unit Superintendent
Honorable Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge
Rodney Franklin – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas State Parks Director
Concluding Remarks, Steve Killian, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Cooper Lake State Park Complex Superintendent
Refreshments Provided by Friends of Doctors Creek, Inc.
Music by the Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD
Cooper Lake State Park – Doctors Creek Unit – 95 Park Road
8154 – Cooper, TX 75432 903-395-3100/903-945-5256.
$7 Million In ARP Funding Dedicated To NETEX, Communications Tower, Road Equipment, Salaries, Trustee Housing Facility, Retainage
Hopkins County Commissioners Court, in a special session Tuesday afternoon, committed the just over $7 million in ARP (American Rescue Plan) funding which has been allocated to the county toward 6 purposes: to assist NETEX, a communications tower, road equipment, salary replacement, a trustee facility and retainage. The Court also approved a security proposal and budget amendments for insurance proceeds received.
American Rescue Plan
“Those allocations will be set into stone today so that we will be able to work around those figures and, I understand there is going to be some give and take on some of those figures. However, that will allow for that money to be set aside to be used for these purposes,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted when reading the proposal to obligate ARP funds from the US Treasury.
“They are very strict as to how we use those funds, so that’s why we are using them for these particular projects, because they have met the criteria of what the money was meant for,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker pointed out.
Newsom noted that is correct, plus the allocations have to be somewhat COVID-related.
Road and Bridge, Salaries
“The funds that you state go to road and bridge from that, the guidelines state general economic development and infrastructure projects such as road construction or bridge repair unrelated to COVID-19 are not an eligible expense, UNLESS they are funded through a county’s loss revenue replacement allowance. Hopkins County had a loss of revenue, so that’s why you are able to get those funds,” County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook added.
Those funds are designated specifically for infrastructure and will be divided into the four county budgets at a later time.
“It is particularly for the purchase of capital assets, not necessarily going on the roads,” Newsom added.
The Commissioners Court allocated $1,719,040 of the more than $7 million in ARP funding for “public sector revenue loss,” to be spent on county general specific infrastructure within the road and bridge area for the purchase of heavy equipment capital assets for construction of county roads or bridge repair.
At least $610,000 of those funds will be used specifically for the purchase of two M314 Excavators from Holt Cat through Sourcewell. One will go to Precinct 2 and the other to Precinct 4. Each commissioner will use their portion of allocated American Rescue Plan funds to pay for the excavators. Each piece of equipment is $305,000, and because the units are being bought through Sourcewell, a purchasing cooperative, the county is not required to go out for bids for the purchase, according to Aulsbrook.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said this will be used to replace Precinct 4 tractor that burned up a few weeks ago.
“It says on there an excavator, which may through some people off. It’s an excavator on wheels, on top, so it can go one down the road. This particular model, I can count at least four jobs this machine will do out in the precincts for us. I think it will be well utilized,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin said. “I think this will really be a well rounded and used machine for us, especially on brush-cutting. It has an attachments.”
Anglin said while Price has had a problem recently with his machine, and the precinct 2 brush cutter has been a constant problem since he’s been in office. A more heavy duty machine, the Holt CAT M314 Excavator should hold up better for brush-cutting.
Price said in addition to clearing ditches, the Excavator would have a grade-all and tree brush cutter.
The equipment could potentially be used by Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 crews, provided they are available when the crews would need t use it or other means to accomplish their tasks.
Later in the meeting, Aulsbrook asked the court consider amending the FY 2021-22 budget by moving the $2 million the county has already received from the American Rescue Plan revenue, $500,000 each, into the four accounts for machinery and equipment.
Another $280,960 of the $7 million In ARP funding awarded to Hopkins County was allocated for salary replacement.
Communications Tower
The Commissioners Court allocated $500,000 of the $7 million In ARP funding for a new communications tower in Martin Springs Community, to replace a tower that is estimated to be 55-60 years old that is on its last leg. The tower was refurbished 5 years ago thanks to an Ark-Tex Council of Governments grant. At that point, county officials were told that the measure was a stopgap, a patch that would last only about 5 years, Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley told the Commissioners Court.
“We are at that point. So, if were to have a large wind or anything like that it really could come down. That would cripple our communications for our first responders throughout all of Hopkins County and our surrounding neighbors. It’s imperative that we do this. Also, allows for broadband to come in on this,” Endsley explained.
A component of the project to meet the rules and regulations established for funding includes allowing for broadband internet service to expand into the area using the tower.
“We’ve already go a community internet provider that’s on both of our locations and it also opens it up for other competitors if they want to do that,” Endsley said.
That, in turn, would make internet available further in the county, which should help reach some of the gaps in that area, which would allow schools who have students doing online learning from home in the more rural part of the county. That would provide more high speed internet at a pace needed for those students to effectively do school work online.
“We are still waiting on rough estimates to come in on that,” Endsley said.
Trustee Facility
The largest allocation from the $7 Million in ARP funding awarded to Hopkins County was designated for construction of a building to house male inmates who have been designated as “trustees,” and as such go out into the community to work daily, including on precinct crews, at schools, the Civic Center and other locations throughout the community.
The new $4.5 million housing facility would better segregate the inmate trustees from the general inmate population when they return from their work details, a measure to reduce potential spread of COVID or other infectious illnesses from the trustees who are out in the public or working alongside those who are around others in public, where they could be potentially exposed to illnesses, county officials pointed out.
By doing so, the county would be meeting the “response to COVID pandemic for public health and the health of the general inmate population of the Hopkins County jail,” according to the motion approved by the court for all six funding purposes.
County Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and Jail representatives met with DRG Architects, LLC, following the regular court session to discuss the new Hopkins County Trustee Housing Facility, to be located on Houston Street, across from the Hopkins County jail. DRG, who also oversaw construction of the new Hopkins County jail, presented schematic drawings that were drawn based on prior conversations with county officials. The schematic plan has been submitted to the state jail commission for approval, the first of three submittals. DRG, once approved, will then work with the county on developing a design, and once approved will submit that as well. They also will submit for approval plans for the construction phase of the project.
Typically, a team including representatives from the court, sheriff’s office and architectural firm go before the state officials for an initial contact meeting. While COVID measures are lifting, it’s unclear whether the agency will continue visits via Zoom or otherwise for those sessions, the DRG representative noted.
As proposed in the DRG proposed schematic, the facility would house up to have three dorms with 12 beds each like a general population area, and two single cell pods with six singe-bed cells each. The new trustee housing facility would have an enclosed exercise area along with a warming kitchen with with three compartment sink, carts, work tables but no real cooking facilities are standard for these types of facilities. The need for refrigeration and likely microwaves was discussed.
A receiving area on the side of the building would allow vehicles to pull up to a fenced area with a covered awning to pick up inmates assigned to work crews throughout the county. However a number of matters will need to considered and decisions made regarding use and equipping of entry areas to reenter the jail housing. Discussed was the potential for a locker room/dressing area off the receiving area and a body scanner and possible shower at the inmate entrance.
Visitation, counseling, multipurpose, reception/lobby, office and other spaces within the jail too were discussed. For instance, the officials considered what visitation areas would need to consist of and whether visitation would be conducted at the cells or a multipurpose room that could be used for education, training and special programs and religious observances.
Overall, security for the inmate trustees, officers and visitors is to be paramount, with consideration given for inmates’ medical and mental health needs as well, and possible areas that could be converted or reconfigured in the event of an outbreak of illness among trustee inmates, and the long-term needs for a facility of that size, including possibility of housing female inmates at the location.
NETEX Rail
Barker, who serves on the NETEX Board, reported $25,225.94 of the $7 million In ARP funding was allocated to NETEX (Northeast Texas Rural Transportation District) will “help replace cross ties on the failing rail that we are experiencing right now.”
“This will be a good boost to at least get them in the right direction,” Barker said. “We are the first county of six to do this. I plan on encouraging the other counties to help out also.”
In late September Barker proposed donating two semi loads of crossties to NETEX to help support Northeast Texas Connector’s (NETC) repair efforts. NETC, a division of Freedom Rail Group, which has served since July 1, 2020, as operator of NETEX rail, which spans 65.6 miles of operational railroad along an 88.8 mile corridor that runs from east to west through 6 counties, starting in Winfield in Titus County and continuing through Franklin, Hopkins, Delta and Hunt Counties to Mesquite in Collin County.
The NETEX Board meets the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation offices.
Retainage
Another $177,806.06 of the $7-plus million in ARP funding will be held as “retainage,” to be used if needed to fill in as necessary for all of the other projects, according to Newsom.
“We haven’t received all the bids back on all these projects. Once we get the bids back, we’ll have firm numbers, but we put some in retainage just to be on the safe side,” Aulsbrook said.
Other Business
Aulsbrook also presented and received court approval for budget amendments insurance funding, to close out the 2020-21 budget year which ended Sept. 30, 2021 and get everything in the proper fund in the current budget, which began on Oct. 1, 2021.
The county received from Texas Association of Counties $2,266.38 for a sheriff’s office truck damaged last year. The funding received for the repairs would be reflected in the department’s vehicle repair and maintenance fund.
The county also received $222,917.09 from TAC for hail damage sustained at the County Annex Building. Quite a bit of that had already been paid for. That would be moved to courthouse repairs and maintenance fund. Part of it will roll over into the new budget.
The county too was awarded $7,056.50 in insurance funding for roof replacement at the County Annex Building. That too will go into the repairs and maintenance fund in the 2021-22 budget.
Another item requiring a budget amendment moves $39,000 from the sheriff’s office commissary fund the maintenance budget for the maintenance truck. The truck was sold to the sheriff’s office. HCSO paid $39,000 for the maintenance vehicle. That funding was moved into the truck maintenance budget, to pay for the new truck.
Also approved was a security proposal with Firetrol Protection Systems for Hopkins County buildings.
“This is just a routine update on the existing contracts we already have with Firetrol. In the past we had several different venders that were duplicating work. We eliminated that by going with one sole source. They do all of our fire suppression, fire extinguishers, fire alarm monitoring and also the security of our buildings. This one only pertains to the fire protection, where they come and inspect our sprinkler systems, fill the backflow, preventers do a flow test on our sprinkler systems within our county buildings and the fire alarm side of it,” Endsley said.
As each goes out, they are paid for by each department where the fire protection systems are located; in other words, the sheriff’s office would pay for services as outlined in the contracts, the fire department their systems and the courthouse would come out of the courthouse maintenance fund, according to Endsley.
Both Eighth Grade A and B Football Teams Continue Rolling, Start Season 4-0
The Middle School Wildcats continue their winning streak and remain undefeated for the season with 4-0 starts for both A and B teams.
The Middle School Wildcats traveled to Mount Pleasant and faced the Tigers with both teams emerging victorious.
The eighth grade A-team beat Mount Pleasant 21-6.
On offense, quarterback Gage Gideon threw for 100 yards passing and threw for 2 passing touchdowns. Coach Flores said Gage did a great job of staying in the pocket while passing and delivered some great balls to our his wide outs.
Wide receivers Jaxson Haire and Ryan Karr continue to impress.
Haire has been explosive all season at the wide receiver position and delivered another great game with 1 receiving touchdown and ended up with 120 yards receiving for the game. The middle school coach said Karr did an excellent job of run blocking but still managed to get a receiving TD.
Running back Keyshaun John ran the ball hard and finished with 80 yards rushing, with 60 of them coming on a single house call.
Coach Flores said Aiden Godbolt, Jeffery Stevenson, Dallin Horton, Lucas Shirley, Anthony Solis, Michael Walker, Trey Pannel, Vincient Johnson, Kase Temples, and Aiden Mcarroll did a great job of executing the blocking scheme on Offense and getting in the backfield defensively.
On defense, Alex McCormick, Julian Clayton, Matthew Jeter, Corbin Argenbright, Braxton Espinoza, Gio Ibarra, and Creed Whisenhunt did a great job of tackling and swarming to the football.
The eighth grade B-team also beat the Tigers, dispatching Mount Pleasant 38-6. RB Logan Lowrance ended up with a rushing and receiving touchdown.
WR Ben Lovelady had a great game and finished with 2 receiving Touchdowns and did well blocking at the Wr position helping the offense running game.
QB Issiac Ray had a rushing and passing touchdown each. Quarterback Deuce Timmons also had a good game throwing for 2 passing touchdowns and played well defensively, Coach Flores said.
The middle school Wildcats football coach said TJ Abron, Blaine Allen, Jermiah Robinson, Bryson Reyes, Aiden Koon, Kendrick Harris, Marcos Ramirez, and Jacolby Arceneaux, did a great job of blocking on the offense, and putting pressure on the Mount Pleasant offense for the game.
On defense TJ Bolden, Za Godbolt, Cazden Holton, Aiden Chester, Preston Nottingham, Mack Barrett, did a great job of making plays defensively.
Next up, the Sulphur Springs Middle School Wildcats will Host Texas High here at Gerald Prim Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
C Team will get the action underway next Tuesday at 4:30 P.M. with intramural action, followed by the B-team and A-team taking on the Tigers at 5:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. respectively.
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.
Alliance Bank Chairman/CEO Tom Sellers Elected Chairman Of The Nation’s Largest State Community Banking Association
AUSTIN, Texas—The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) is proud to announce that Tom Sellers, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank, has been elected chairman of the IBAT board of directors for 2021-22. He officially accepted this position during the association’s 47th annual convention held September 18-21 in Austin.
With a banking career that spans more than 42 years, Sellers has served Sulphur Springs and the surrounding community at Alliance Bank for 33 years. Prior to his time at Alliance Bank, he was a county supervisor at the Farmers Home Administration and vice president and senior leading officer at the Federal Land Bank at Tyler. Sellers has selflessly given to the community banking industry for years, serving as chairman of the IBAT Education Foundation, as well as being a member of the IBAT board and executive committee. He is also on the federal delegate board for the Independent Community Bankers of America.
Sellers is extremely active in his community as well, currently serving as president of the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corp., a board member for CHRISTUS Hopkins Health Alliance and stewardship chair for First United Methodist Church. Previously, he was president of the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees and served on the boards of the Texas Tech University Alumni Association, Rotary Club of Sulphur Springs and NETSEO Trails Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
Sellers received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from Texas Tech University and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children and two grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his grandchildren and watching Texas Tech University sports.
IBAT’s 2021-22 elected officers are Chairman Tom Sellers of Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs, Chairman-Elect K. Kyle Irwin of Western Bank in Gruver, Secretary-Treasurer Christopher Doyle of Texas First Bank in Texas City, Immediate Past Chairman Brad Tidwell of VeraBank, N.A. in Henderson, IBAT Education Foundation Chairman Hazem Ahmed of Independent Financial in Houston and IBAT Leadership Division Chairman Justin Steinbach of Frost Bank in Dallas. New additions to the IBAT board include John David “J.D.” Baker of Llano National Bank, Thom Canfield of Mason Bank, Mike Fernandez of Texas National Bank in Abilene, Tracy Harris of National Bank & Trust in La Grange, Sloan Kuehl of First National Bank of Central Texas in Waco and Reed Williams of Brady National Bank.
About the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Formed in 1974, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) represents Texas community banks. The Austin-based group is the largest state community banking organization in the nation, with membership comprised of more than 4,600 banks and branches in 700 Texas communities. Providing safe and responsible financial services to all Texans, IBAT member bank assets range in size from $26 million to $44 billion with combined assets statewide of nearly $193 billion. IBAT member banks are committed to supporting and investing in their local communities.
Statewide Banking Organization Honors Alliance Bank With 2021 Best Of Community Banking Award
Independent Bankers Association Of Texas Recognizes Sulphur Springs-Based Community Bank For Its Video Marketing
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas—The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT)—the largest state community banking association in the nation—recently honored Alliance Bank with a Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Award. The bank, based in Sulphur Springs, Texas, received a Community Spirit/Gold Eagle BOCB Award for its marketing initiatives. Alliance Bank received the honor on September 20 during IBAT’s 2021 Convention in Austin, Texas.
In an atmosphere of vanishing traditional advertising platforms, Alliance Bank sought to target its marketing and drive non-traditional advertising mediums, recognizing the immense potential impact of video-based content. Kicking off a series of video-based campaigns tied to community involvement, the bank developed progressive and cascading marketing campaigns that have spanned 12 months to date.
The first wave of marketing combined market acquisition and expansion, community involvement, sports highlight reel sponsorship and market PSAs. The second wave kicked off with a Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter fan drive and advertising campaigns. It tapped advertising impressions previously unrealized at an extremely low cost per impression. The third wave included an aggressive and technologically forward-thinking approach to drive product adoption using multiple social media platforms. The fourth and final wave will be a historical series of videos highlighting the customer’s journey with Alliance Bank.
IBAT has celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of Texas community banks with the BOCB Award since 1991. Community banks play a critical role in their local communities. The Best of Community Banking competition is designed to honor these banks for their commitment to helping their customers, neighbors, employees and community. BOCB Awards recognize community banks throughout the state for their innovation, creativity and success in fulfilling a specific community or internal need. Each submission receives a Gold Eagle, Silver Eagle or Bronze Eagle award in one of six categories: bank culture, community service, financial literacy, marketing, architectural design and—new this year—pandemic response.
“This past year has been challenging across the globe as we continue to fight the pandemic,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “But community bankers have been truly inspiring during these difficult days by processing a majority (57.5 percent) of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses and helping their communities when they were needed most. This year’s BOCB Award recipients were particularly inspiring in their efforts to meet the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and this recognition is only a small token of our immense pride in Texas community banks to better the lives of those around them. I sincerely congratulate all of the 2021 BOCB Award recipients.”
All of the 2021 Best of Community Banking Awards submissions can be viewed by clicking here.
About the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Formed in 1974, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) represents Texas community banks. The Austin-based group is the largest state community banking organization in the nation, with membership comprised of more than 4,600 banks and branches in 700 Texas communities.
Providing safe and responsible financial services to all Texans, IBAT member bank assets range in size from $26 million to $44 billion with combined assets statewide of nearly $193 billion. IBAT member banks are committed to supporting and investing in their local communities.
— Submitted by Neil Ferguson, Editor and Graphic Designer for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Wildcats, Lady Cats Cross Country Travel Light to Mount Pleasant, Enjoying Second-to-Last Tune-Up Before District Meet
Wildcats cross country Coach Ross Hicks said his team’s outing went well last Saturday in Mount Pleasant at the Titus County Fair Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2.
The Lady Cats only went up against a handful of schools last Saturday, which included Pine Tree, Mount Pleasant, Marshall, and (Paris) Trinity Christian Academy.
They managed to have a decent outing, as Coach Ross Hicks said that his team travelled light in that they did not have their full varsity squad, but that does not mean those who went did not perform well.
The cross country coach said that for most years, the course at Titus County Fair Invitational tended to be the district meet for teams from District 15-5A.
That is not the case this year, but since the team runs the course twice a year, they were all too ready to be back on familiar ground in Mount Pleasant.
Coach Ross Hicks called it a beautiful day to run, and thanks to the course being one the shorter ones his program will run all year, it resulted in some personal best times.
In a field of 21 spots, the Lady Cats had two runners finish in the top-15.
The women’s team were lead by sophomore Haylee Schultz, who continues to have an impressive season.
Coach Hicks said that Schultz had her best time of the year, and on top of that she surpassed her time from last year’s meet in Mount Pleasant.
Schultz finished second in the small field, crossing the line with a time of just over 20 minutes.
Junior Rebekah Stanley was the other Lady Cat who placed in the top-20, medaling at spot number 12. The cross country coach said Stanley ran her second best time of the year.
A few JV runners stepped up and did well at the Titus County Fair Invitational, Coach Hicks said.
The men’s team, like the women, did not have their full arsenal at their disposal. The Wildcats’ first and third runners were out; Alex Flecker was out and Jose Mejia was out as well.
Both are expected to be back running with the team when they travel to Lindale for their final regular-season meet before district.
Evan Patrick lead the way in Mount Pleasant as he was able to crack the top-10 at seventh. The senior had a time of 17:03.10.
Young gun freshman Cristobal Torres got the final medalling spot at 15th, crossing the line at 18:01.80.
Other runners that made the top-30 for the Wildcats were freshman Candelario Monsivais at 23rd, sophomore Erick Osornio following at 24th and junior Hector Hernandez who made it in at 25th.
Senior Jonathan Scott placed 28th.
And while Coach Ross Hicks was happy with how his thin teams performed in Mount Pleasant, he hopes his squad is back at full strength for Thursday’s meet in Lindale.
The Lindale Eagle Invitational is set to have a bit later start on Thursday when the 5A and 6A women’s varsity runners get the action underway for Coach Ross Hicks and his program at 8:30 A.M.
The Eagle Invitational is the final regular season meet for Coach Hicks and his cross country runners.
The meet for teams in district 15-5A is set to take place in Hallsville a week from tomorrow, on Thursday, Oct. 14 at HHS.
But before they can shift their entire focus to what should be a hotly contested district meet a week from tomorrow, they first have to get through the Lindale Eagle Invitational which is tomorrow at 8:30 A.M.
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