Residents Reminded To Secure Valuables, Lock Doors To Reduce Risk Of Vehicle Burglaries
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson Wednesday, after being made aware of a series of overnight vehicle burglaries in cities in other area counties, reminds local residents to take steps to secure valuables and lock doors to reduce the risk of becoming the victim of vehicle burglaries.
According to area reports, both Mount Pleasant and Mount Vernon officials have reported multiple vehicle burglaries this week – and most involved unlocked vehicles.
In fact, Mount Pleasant Police Department Wednesday reported more than 41 vehicle burglaries occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday. Officials were still in the process of investigating the large string of burglaries at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11, 2021.
“Out of these vehicles, ALL were left unlocked! The burglars were able to freely go car to car and take cash, guns, and other items of value,” MPPD posted on the department social media page.
Franklin County Law Enforcement also Tuesday reported that Mount Vernon Police Department responded Aug. 10 to car burglaries in the area of Meadow Park Drive and Highland Oaks Street. FCLE too reported that an initial investigation into the vehicle burglaries revealed “multiple unlocked vehicles had been gone,” and urged people not to leave anything valuable in their vehicles, especially weapons.
Ricketson said with those area cities being hit by vehicle burglars, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County could be next. Thus, he urges people to be sure to lock their vehicles when exiting the autos. He too recommends taking all valuables and keys with them.
“This type of crime is easy to prevent. People just need to make it part of their nightly routine to lock their vehicles and not leave valuables,” Ricketson said. “And, as always if they observe something suspicious or that doesn’t seem quite right, especially at night, we encourage them to call us right away. That call could be the tip that helps us catch and stop someone in the act of committing a crime.”
Dinner Bell Today
Dinner Bell is serving a special meal today. Volunteers from all walks of life diligently cook and assemble each meal with care. Special thanks to Alliance Bank as the Community Partner for this week’s meal. Their continued support is greatly appreciated.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
MENU
Herb Crusted Pork Loin
Wild Rice and Long Grain Rice with Orange Zest and Craisins
Yellow Squash Casserole
Garden Salad
Yeast Rolls
Cherry Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake
BE CAREFUL! KEEP DISTANCES! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! GET INOCULATED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!
Chamber Connection – August 11
Deadline For Adult Leadership Class is Aug. 13; Applicants Still Needed For Class To Make
By Butch Burney
Adult Leadership
The deadline is fast approaching for the Adult Leadership program, and we are still in need of applicants for the class to make! We are accepting on our website, HopkinsChamber.org, or I can email you the documents if you contact me at [email protected] or by calling 903-885-6515.
Adult Leadership takes you through all of the services of the city and county in an in-depth program that will enrich your life, both occupationally and individually.
The class needs 20-25 members, and the deadline is Aug. 13
High School Leadership
The Hopkins County High School Leadership class will have all seven schools participating this year with 39 seniors involved in the program. If you want to sponsor one of these deserving students, this is the last week to do so and get your logo on the back of their T-shirts. If you’re interested in sponsoring, call the Chamber of 903-885-6515.
Photography Contest
It’s time for the 6th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than January 1, 2019, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 2 to August 31. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website.
Stew Fest Market Vendor Call
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515 email us at [email protected]
Stew Contest Drink Sales
Every year, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Contest. If you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regard to rules and expectations. The deadline is Aug. 31. Once we have all our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization. Please call if you have any questions.
Lunch and Learn
State Sen. Bob Hall and State Rep. Bryan Slaton will be in town for a Lunch and Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. Registration forms are on our website, so sign up to learn how laws passed (and not passed) by the Texas Legislature will affect your business. Lunch will be provided at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Tickets are $15 for Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Thanks for Atmos Energy and Oncor for sponsoring this important luncheon.
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 Aug. 11, Bright Star Floors. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cuttings
The Plant Niche, 222 Tomlinson St., hosted a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Go by the new business to see all the greenery they have to offer.
- Nunez Roofing will host a ribbon cutting at 1121 Loop 301 at noon Wednesday, Aug. 11. Come out and join us for that.
- Outlaw Milling and Woodworking will have a ribbon cutting at the Chamber office at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Come out and support this unique business.
- Natalie’s Food mart will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 1321 South Broadway St. Stop by to welcome this business to the Chamber.
SSISD Trustees Approve 25 Personnel Changes, Employee Compensation Plans
Pay Scales Raised For Certain Hourly Workers, Paraprofessionals
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved 25 personnel changes as well as employee compensation plans that increases pay scales for certain hourly workers and paraprofessionals.
Personnel Changes
SSISD trustees approved four resignations, 13 new hires and eight inter-district personnel changes, which aside from a few paraprofessional and one office spot in the special education department pretty much firms up the district staff for the year.
Christie McCullough resigned as dance teacher and drill team instructor at Sulphur Springs High School. Meredith Dial is moving from a fourth grade classroom at Sulphur Springs Elementary to the high school to teach dance and serve as drill team instructor. Alisa Kulak then was hired as a fourth grade math and science teacher at SSES. Elias Garcia has been employed as a bilingual aide at SSES.
Ambie Tolleson resigned as Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center Head Start 4 aide. Douglass prekindergarten aide Leslie McDowell, Barbara Bush Primary special education aide Amber Harris and Rowena Johnson Primary (former Lamar Primary campus) Title 1 aide Lila Sears will all be stepping up as teachers at Douglass ECLC this year. Harris and McDowell will teach Head Start, while Sears teaches prekindergarten. Carrington Chancellor was hired as a prekindergarten aide at Douglass ECLC.
Kami Satterfield and Corban Jenkins resigned as special education aides at SSHS. Eric Buck in turn will move from Bowie Primary, where he was a Title 1 aide, to be a special education aide at SSHS. Kayla Miller will be moving from Douglass, where she’s been a Head Start aide, to become a Title 1 aide at Bowie Primary. Finally, rounding out the list of SSISD staff transferring to Douglass following Monday evening’s personnel changes is Tracy Flanery, who is trading Connections classroom at SSHS for an early childhood special education class at Douglass.
Patti Laeding will be returning to the classroom part time to teach English at SSHS. Brandy Griffin too was hired as a SSHS English teacher. Amanda Cochran has joined the SSHS staff as special education aides.
Hired as special education aides at Barbara Bush Primary were Dejarnae Nash and Brandy Rhudy, and at Sulphur Springs Middle School were Luciano Gallo and Kerry Roy.
Rounding out the list of new hires were Harley Kerby, Jady Martin and Logan Scott, as Title 1 aides at Rowena Johnson Primary.
Personnel decisions were voted on by the school board after an executive session Monday night, Aug. 9, 2021.
Rowena Johnson Elementary
Superintendent Michael Lamb, after the meeting reported that the sign officially renaming Lamar Primary in honor of the late Rowena Johnson, who dedicated 50 years toward the education of SSISD students before retiring, has been ordered but has been delayed. The new Rowena Johnson Primary sign is tentatively scheduled to arrive on the first day of classes. District administrators still hope to hold a dedication service to unveil the new sign.
Employee Compensation Plans
SSISD trustees also approved the 11 pages of pay scales for district employees as recommended by administrators. While some appear the same, there are some differences in others. The district, like many across the state, have struggled to hire and retain employees for certain staff, such as child nutrition workers, bus drivers, substitutes and certain paraprofessionals. Administrators recommended increases to those pay scales to make the pay more competitive with other districts in the area or of comparable size.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams noted one of the more obvious changes can be found in the hourly worker compensation plan. The starting rate for child nutrition workers increased from a minimum starting pay of $9 per hour to $10.50 with a maximum rate of $16 for child nutrition workers on Pay Grade 1. Rates for child nutrition managers vary by the number of students served at their campus or facility. The rate for child nutrition managers on campuses with 400 or less students ranges from $13-19, with 400-800 students would be $14-20, for 800 or more students would be $15-21 hourly pay.
Williams reported the minimum starting pay for custodial, maintenance, grounds, bus monitors are comparable with all. Custodians too start at $10.50 an hour, bus monitors at pay grade 2 at $11 an hour, maintenance (grounds) in pay grade 3 at $12 an hour and pay grade 4 at $13 starting (the same as child nutrition managers on campuses with 400 students or less).
Another change noted by Williams was in compensation scales for paraprofessionals. Looking at the scale listed in blue and gold, with two different pay scales.
“The pay scale 1 is what used to be Pay scale 2. That’s where a lot of paraprofessionals are. The old Pay Grade 1 was for a subset of paraprofessionals at Douglass. We found that was an antiquated practice with what they were doing every day and were being paid less because the kids were smaller,” Williams said. “So we moved the old Pay Scale 2 to Pay Scale 1.”
Williams noted that the gold pay scale on the right is 5 percent greater than Pay Grade 1. This is designated for paraprofessionals who work in the classroom environments where they potentially face physical peril. The overall cost to the district to change the paraprofessional pay scale is $40,000.
Another change not reflected in the pay scale presented Monday night to the SSISD trustees is an increase in substitute pay.
“Not only this year, but last year with COVID, we’re competing with districts in the county for substitutes. Different schools do it different ways. We are going propose increasing short term substitutes from $70 a day to $80 and long term subs from $80 to $90. That brings us up to par with other districts around us,” Williams said.
Free Saturday Sports Clinics Resume Aug. 21, At CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic-Sulphur Springs
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Thank you for your patience!
Due to a sharp increase in Emergency Room visits as a result of the spike in COVID-19, please expect longer wait times than normal. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to provide high quality care in a timely manner. Thank you in advance for allowing us to provide for your healthcare needs, while extending grace to our staff.
Sports Medicine
FREE Saturday Athletic Injury Clinic for student athletes of all ages is just around the corner. The Saturday sports clinic will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11a.m. on August 21 through November 13.
Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic Office, at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call our office at 903.885.6688.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will host a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the main lobby of the hospital through August 27, 2021. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older), Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson (1-dose, ages 18 and older), Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Carter BloodCare Blood Drive
The Carter BloodCare Bus will be parked in the front parking lot of our hospital in Sulphur Springs on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Our local blood supply is at an all-time low creating a serious supply issue.
To sign up to give blood, or for questions, please call Yeon Mi Kim at 903.438.4380 or call/text Carter BloodCare at 800.366.2834. All donors will receive a free t-shirt.
Please help us preserve our masks for our healthcare providers, and BRING YOUR OWN MASK
With COVID cases rapidly increasing in our community, the hospital requires all visitor to wear a mask while in the facility. There is no entry into the hospital without a mask. Visitors may wear a cloth or medical mask. Thank you for your continued support of the safety of our patients and associates.
Hospital Bed Availability
While some hospitals are on divert due to a “critical COVID surge”, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital continues to serve patients, and has available hospital beds, both for COVID and non-COVID diagnoses.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable. Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 Essential support person at a time – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band
- COVID unit visitor must remain the same throughout stay
- ICU/ER: 1 Essential support person only
- All other patients may have 1 Essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
Hours of Operation
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs
Starting Monday, August 16, 2021, CHRISTUS Urgent Care will be open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.. The Urgent Care is located at 1339 South Broadway St., and the phone number to call is 903.951.1001.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties.
For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Commissioners Approve Corinth Deed Transfer, RFQ Committee
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved Corinth School deed transfer, and FRQ Selection Committee and budget amendments for two donations, during their regular August 9 meeting.
Corinth School Property
Hopkins County Commissioners Court was asked to transfer the deed for the old Corinth School Property to the county resident who has been paying the taxes on the County Road 4772 property for the past few years. The measure, according to County Judge Robert Newsom, would simply be “a little cleaning up” of the history for that property.
“This kind of came to light last week. It’s kind of an interesting history of this,” Newsom said.
The area of Hopkins County known as Addran community was known as Corinth community in the late 1800s. When the post office was formed, it was given the name Addran.
Tommy Long and Kristi Brewer explained the information that had been pieced together from Long’s memory of family history, old Commissioners Court minutes and deed research.
The property in question, located on CR 4772 just off CR 4777, was among a 2 acre plot which included the school, with a Church of Christ on one side and a Baptist Church on the other. Tommy Long’s grandparents, SM and Edith Long, deeded the land to the county judge and his successors in office in trust for school purposes in 1916 and paid for by the trustees of the Corinth Public School No. 40. In 1916, there were 71 students attending school in Addran school, from an estimated 18-20 families who lived in Addran (the old Corinth) community. At that time, there were few schools and within about 3 miles of each other in the northern part of Hopkins County, including Addran (Corinth), Birthright, Macedonia, Tira and Sandfield. Peerless and Posey also had their own schools and churches, Long explained.
The Church of Christ trustees, via L. Vaden, received an acre and half a piece of property that joins the west side of the school by deed from AM and Mary E. Martin in 1876. On the east side of Corinth Public School, the Longs deeded a half acre to The Missionary Baptist Church of Addran in 1917.
Tommy Long noted that in those days a county school board controlled all of the rural schools, even though the rural schools had their own board, they still had receive approval through the county school board. That remained that way until the 1950s and 1960s. However, the small schools north of Sulphur Springs in 1941 and 1942 were consolidated to become North Hopkins Consolidated schools. Eventually, all three buildings – the churches and school were moved off the property.
In 1951, the Church of Christ trustees deeded the church property to Glyn Withrow, and the church was moved to property near where NHISD is located, and continued to be a church until about 5 years ago, when it disbanded. The Baptist Church was deeded back to the Longs in 1950 and the church was moved and still active as North Hopkins Baptist Church, located next to Dollar General in Birthright. The Old Corinth School house was relocated to North Caney to be used as a school, then was moved again to Highway 19, about 3 miles north of FM 71, and became part of a house.
Recently, a new survey was conducted along with deed research by Debbie Dicus at Professional Land Title Co. At that time, it was learned the tract of land where the school had been located was still in the name of Hopkins County. The Corinth school property went back to the county school board, and then when county school boards were dissolved reverted to the county, the judge and successors. That’d make the county judge and commissioners the deed holders for the property.
When the land in that area was purchased, the school land didn’t get corrected 8 years ago. Brewer said her client is preparing to sell the land, and in that process learned the county still has control over the property even though the client has been paying taxes on the property. Although a survey was done, there was not title policy at that time. The client purchased it and the deeds were drawn up, so there was no way for them to check that, because they did not go through title. It was flagged as not having a clear title. It’s fenced into an 11-acre property the client has been paying taxes on, Brewer noted.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley noted that a similar situation arose in Weaver last June. At one time the township of Weaver was subdivided. Streets were platted along with small lots. The streets, however, were never developed. At some point later, county roads were built. County Road 3531 did not follow the exact plat of the streets. When a piece of property was slated to be sold in “downtown” Weaver, a survey showed a small part of the house on the property is sitting on the county right-of-way. The underwriters for the title policy wouldn’t approve the deed “as is” because a small portion of the house was sitting on that old “street.” The county road is adjacent to the street right-of-way. Because of the “street” designation, legally, the right-of-way must be abandoned in order for that to be corrected and the property to be eligible for sale. So, the commissioners court approved an application and petition to close and abandon a portion of right-of-way off County Road 3531.
Bartley made motion to transfer the deed from Hopkins County to the current taxpayer. Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price seconded the motion, which then received full approval from the Commissioners Court to transfer the deed.
RFP Committee
Shannah Aulsbrook asked the Commissioners Court to approve a selection committee to review the requests for proposals for qualifications for architectural and engineering services for a trustee housing facility to be constructed across from the current jail and a new community safe room also to be located near Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center.
She proposed the RFP Selection Committee for the two projects consist of 9 individuals: Hopkins County Commissioners Court (the four commissioners and county judge), Sheriff Lewis Tatum, Fire Marshal Andy Endsley, Beth Wisenbaker who oversees grants for the county and Aulsbrook. The group would grade the RFPs once they are in, then that information would be used to select architectural and engineering services for the projects. In order to be eligible for funding for the projects, the RFP Selection Committee has to be chosen and approved.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin made a motion, with Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker seconding, to approve the RFP Selection Committee for the two projects as recommended by the auditor. The motion received the full approval of the Commissioners Court.
The Hopkins County Commissioners Court at their July 26 meeting authorized issuance of requests for proposals for qualifications for architectural services related to American Rescue Program funds or state and local fiscal recovery funds, for a Trustee Housing Facility. The facility would keep the trustees, who work in the community, separate from other inmates as a safety precaution against COVID-19 or any other illness being spread, and to better keep contraband such as snuff or controlled substance out of the county jail. The new facility, as currently estimated, would be constructed to house up to 48 beds for male trustees, and would require four additional jailers, whose salaries would not be covered by the American Rescue Program funding.
Also during the July 26 meeting, the Commissioners Court authorized issuance of requests for proposals for qualifications for architectural services related to a Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs application the county is submitting with a goal of constructing a Community Safe Room. If approved, the grant is an 80/20 percent match, with 80 percent coming from the grant and the county providing a 20 percent match. The safe room would serve multiple purposes. It could serve as a community shelter in times of extreme weather, or a site for certain types of mass distributions, such as a safe space from which vaccines could be administered. The Community Safe Room too would likely serve as a new Emergency Operations Center for the entire county,
Budget Amendments
Aulsbrook also recommended accepting a grant and donation, as well as two budget amendments to move those the funding into the correct funds for use. The
The $20,000 Community Assistance Grant Sabine River Authority awarded last Thursday to Hopkins County Emergency Management was moved from the grant revenue into emergency management operations fund budget so the funds can be used to finish outfitting a trailer and a $2,000 donation received for repairs on County Road 4724 be moved from a donation line into the Precinct 4 road building fund.
Recognition
Precinct 2 Constable John Beadle was recognized for successfully completing the 20-hour Fiscal Year 2021 Civil Process Seminar held July 18-21.
Sheriff Tatum noted that the Commissioners Court were invited to stop by to see the by the Texas Rangers’ quick response hostage negotiation trailer, sponsored by several community businesses, which was set up at the Civic Center Monday morning.
Tatum was asked if he and others involved could speak during the 3-day Sheriff’s Association of Texas’ school held in San Antonio last week about some of the programs that have been implements in the county jail over the last few years. They presented a 55 minute class, with slides depicting the various topics, including the commissary and farm to help the inmates not only while in jail, but to help prepare them for life upon release from jail, as well as being able to use the funds raised from the commissary to not only subsidize the programs and jail but to give back to other areas of the county as well.
Tatum said county jail and sheriff’s office have always been one of the biggest costs to the county, and these programs allow the department to give back. They talked about measures smaller counties can implement through their jail and law enforcement programs to benefit the entire county not only in service and protection but monetarily as well. One key to the programs’ effective, Tatum said, is the willingness of the various county entities working together for a common good, including the HCSO and the Commissioners Court.
Tatum said afterward, they were asked to visit some other counties across the state to share staff and officials how Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and jail have made the program successful. Hunt County as requested that Tatum and the Hopkins County officials present the program to their Commissioners Court. Next week, the sheriff noted, officials from three other counties are scheduled to work with Dean and Crump to get a feel for the way HCSO does these things.
Lady Cats Volleyball Goes 1-1 in Season Opening Tri-Match
Coach Bailey Dorner’s Lady Cats volleyball team hosted a regular season-opening tri-match Tuesday, Aug. 10 at the SSHS Main Gym and left their home court with a 1-1 record to start their fall 2021 season.
The first game of two, against North Lamar, proved to be a thriller to the end.
Sulphur Springs pulled out to a commanding 2-0 set lead, but North Lamar stormed back to not only take sets three and four, to tie the season-opener for the Lady Cats at 2-2, but also taking set five en-route to a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory for North Lamar over Sulphur Springs.
The Lady Cats kept things close in the game-deciding set, tying the game seven times, but their perseverance proved not to be enough against the Pantherettes.
Coach Dorner’s Lady Cats were not done with the action after the North Lamar defeat, though, for they still had one game left to play on the day in Sherman.
North Lamar, after claiming victory against Sulphur Springs, then had to turn around and play another game, this time against Sherman.
The Pantherettes carried their momentum into their second straight game against a Lady Cats team, sweeping Sherman as they won six straight sets over two games to leave the Main Gym in Sulphur Springs with a 2-0 start to their season.
After North Lamar ensured they would leave the tri-match at the Main Gym with a 2-0 sweep of teams, the home Lady Cats were set for their second game.
Sulphur Springs took set one 25-18. The Lady Cats then took set two in even more dominating fashion, besting the visiting Lady Cats 25-7 to take a significant 2-0 set lead over Sherman.
The visiting Lady Cats looked to be leaving the Main Gym at SSHS 0-2 to start their season if they did not pull it together in set three of their match with Sulphur Springs.
Sherman, realizing if they dropped set three they would not only lose their second straight game in the tri-match, but be swept for the second straight game, fought with tenacity in set three.
The game tied at five points throughout the beginning of the match set, and just when Sulphur Springs began to pull away, leading 19-13 for their biggest lead of the set, Sherman pulled back within three before Coach Dorner’s Lady Cats pulled away for good at 25-18 to sweep the Sherman Lady Cats.
The team had a number of new additions that saw plenty of playing time; #3 Mary Taylor, #5 AJ Dodd, #7 Ellie Kate Daniel, and #10 Kinslei Smallwood. Taylor, alongside senior Brooklyn Burnside (pictured above in blue, far right), provided a number of blocks that translated to points for Sulphur Springs.
Libero Parris Pickett (#1 pictured above in gray), provided a number of key digs to keep the ball in play, and Casslyn Hurley got crucial points for the home Lady Cats.
Coach Dorner said later Tuesday that she thought her team played well, doing a lot of good things. She said that the volleyball team made a lot of improvements from their three scrimmages on Saturday.
The Lady Cats volleyball team left the Main Gym with a 1-1 record to start their season.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her Lady Cats will be traveling to Rowlett on Friday when they participate in the Garland Tournament. Their first match is set for 9 A.M. against Richardson Pearce, followed by two more games against Forney and South Garland at 12 and 1 P.M., respectively.
Coach Dorner said Saturday will be bracket play and all depends on how well the team finished in pool play on Friday.
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.
Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center and Beginning of Fall Semester
Dana Smock, left, office manager at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center, assists second-year student Jocelyn Perez as she completes paperwork for the fall semester, which begins August 30. For more information about PJC, call 903-885-0195.
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.
Paris SBDC Webinars Offer Small Business Survival Tips
The Paris Small Business Development Center continues webinar presentations from author, entrepreneur, and USA Today columnist Rhonda Abrams (author, entrepreneur, and USA Today columnist) for a five-part online webinar.
Widely recognized as one of the nation’s foremost experts on small business, entrepreneurship, and business planning, Abrams has helped millions of entrepreneurs launch and grow their own businesses. In these webinars, she shares specific “do-it-now strategies” to help small businesses survive thrive in this new world.
The webinars are scheduled for next four Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Each webinar is live, with time allowed to take questions. Details for each are listed below.
August 10, 2021: “Money, Money, Money. Getting, managing, and spending money,” tackles the tough challenge of proper pricing for goods or services. Always difficult, in this new Covid-affected world it’s particularly challenging. Register at https://bit.ly/3lRxHW3.
Aug 17, 2021: “Surviving Amazon” shares specific strategies for independent businesses – regardless of industry — to compete against tough online competitors, including the 800-pound gorilla, Amazon, especially in a post-Covid world. There are also many other large platforms – including delivery services like DoorDash or InstaCart — presenting a two-edged sword for small businesses, bringing new customers but calling the shots and often taking huge percentages. Participants will learn how independent businesses within one industry came up with winning strategies to beat Amazon. Register at https://bit.ly/3xzllUE.
Aug 24, 2021: “Start Lean, Stay Lean” demonstrates how to make the most of every dollar, for those new to business and those with decades of experience. Make the most of every dollar including keeping costs down, negotiating techniques, managing inventory, and more. Learn about “minimal viable products” as well as ways to keep costs from inching up year after year. Register at https://bit.ly/3yMfJI0.
Sept 1, 2021: “Pricing: Getting Paid What You Should” addresses setting the right price for goods or services when too high loses customers and too low hurts profit. Learn if setting professional fees is art or science, when to work for free, discounting, and how women business owners can get paid what they’re worth. Register at https://bit.ly/3yF3qgM.
The Paris SBDC is partially funded under CARES Act Cooperative agreement #SBAHQ20C0059 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC is committed to helping clients that have been affected by COVID-19. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law and provides funds to SBDC’s to provide expanded services and resources due to the pandemic.
The Paris SBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Texas, and Paris Junior College. Advising services are offered by the Paris SBDC without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. Special provisions will be made for limited English speaking individuals and those with disabilities. Those interested may contact the Paris SBDC at 903-782-0224.
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.
Man Caught With Fake ID Card, Someone Else’s Debit Card
State troopers caught a 23-year-old man with a fake ID card and someone else’s debit card as a result of an Interstate 30 east traffic stop Sunday morning, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde stopped a Honda Civic at 8:11 a.m. Aug. 8, 2021, on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 121 for speeding and no seat belt. During a roadside interview, Ugalde observed indicators of deception and nervousness, and received conflicting stories from the driver and other occupants of the car. The driver reportedly presented a US resident card as ID.
In the front seat where the man had been sitting Ugalde reported finding a debit card with a bank logo on it. No occupant was identified as the cardholder. The driver claimed the card belonged to a friend who owned the car, and must have left it inside. The vehicle owner, identified as the back seat passenger, denied any knowledge of the cardholder, and said it must belong to one of the driver’s friends. A call to the debit cardholder’s issuer’s fraud department, however, revealed the card had been reported stolen on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. The driver, however, insisted it was his friend’s card and that he could call him. When the man attempted to contact the cardholder via Facebook messenger, the other party did not pick up even though he was shown on the media app as active.
The car was released to the back seat passenger identified as the owner, and the man who had been driving was taken into custody and transported to jail for further investigation.
Ugalde noted the residency card the man had presented appeared to be the wrong shade and the picture on it was not in the correct format. The highway patrol trooper contacted the US Customs office in Dallas, where an agent verified the card was not assigned to a person by that name nor did the person by that name have any legal status. The man admitted he had bought the card from a guy in Virginia about a year ago.
The man, identified in arrest reports as a 23-year-old El Salvador resident named Jose Antonio Canisales-Martinez who listed a Virginia address as his place of residence, received warnings for the traffic violations but was booked into Hopkins County jail at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8, 2021, on fraudulent use or possession of identifying information and tampering with a government record for the ID and bank cards found during the traffic stop, according to arrest reports. The 23-year-old remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Aug. 10, 2021, in lieu of $20,000 on the fraud charge and $2,000 on the tampering charge.
