Truck Driving Program at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
FUTURE DRIVERS
Truck driving instructor Bob Ashbreck (standing) welcomes a new class of student truck drivers into the classroom at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. For information about the program, 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.
BT Solterra Solar Reinvestment Zone Approved, Chapter 381 Agreement In Works
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning approved a reinvestment zone for BT Solerra Solar, LLC, a $140 million solar project planned in the Saltillo area.
Reinvestment Zone
The Commissioners Court at 9:23 a.m. Nov. 22 conducted a public hearing for the proposed reinvestments zone for a second solar project planned in the Saltillo area.
Austin Willis, director of Solar and Storage for Belltown Power Texas, which has been operating in North Texas, said the company has been operating in North Texas for about 5 years.
“We have done about 12 projects to date that are either completed or in construction, so tis will be project number 13-14. We are very excited about it an the investment it brings to Hopkins County,” Willis said.
The company currently has three operational solar projects sold in the US, all in Texas: Rippey, Cooke County; Kellam Van Zandt County; and Coniglio, Fannin County. Belltown Power also has sold the following solar projects which are in development: Hopkins County,
It’s a 140 megawatt project. Rule of thumb is about a million dollars a megawatt, so it’s about a $140 million project. It’s in the Saltillo school district. They’re going to be a major beneficiary of this project,” Willis told the Commissioners Court. “We’ve submitted the 313 application to that school district in late October, Oct. 25. So, that’s under review at the State Comptroller’s Office right now.”
Willis said Belltown Power Texas hopes to begin construction in the second half of 2022 and operations in the second half of 2023.
The reinvestment zone as proposed in the Commissioners Court agreement is a contiguous geographic area which includes five properties owned by Delbert “Chip” Tully spanning across just over 260 acres and 10 owned by Los Senderos Cattle and Ranch Company totally just over 1,170 acres. Overall, that’s a little more than 1,430 acres, all located west of FM 900, starting south of FM 3536 and continuing to property across FM 3532 and narrowing to property west of FM 3536, the proposed reinvestment zone map shows.
The resolution designates the area as a commercial-industrial or residential reinvestment zone for a 5 year span to begin in December 2021, renewable for an additional 5 years at a time or sooner with an order for those parts if any section, paragraph, clause or provision in the document is found to be invalid or unenforceable.
The company, as has been the case with the six other planned solar projects in Hopkins County (including Stampede Solar which is also planned in the Saltillo area), is seeking tax incentives from local taxing entities (Hopkins County, Saltillo ISD and Hopkins County Hospital District) to build solar powered facilities.
The Court was scheduled to consider a Chapter 381 Agreement with Solterra developer Belltown Power Texas, but that document was not yet ready for consideration.
Chapter 313 Application
The Chapter 313 application accepted by Saltillo ISD on Oct. 26, 2021, by Superintendent David Stickels and submitted for review by Texas Comptroller’s Office asks the school district for a 10 year tax exemption for the 10 year project, with operations expected to begin during the 2028-2029 school year and conclude during the 2052-2053 school year.
by the District on October 29, 2021. The application was then forwarded Nov. 16, 2021, and is being reviewed by Texas Comptroller’s Office.
The application shows one qualified employee would be employed to oversee project operations at an annual salary of $47,221, which would require approval for a job waiver to meet Chapter 313.025 (F-1) of the Tax Code, which stipulates creation of 10 permanent jobs unless the jobs created exceeds the industry standard.
“The solar energy industry standard for committed jobs is one job per 350MW. In line with these industry standards for solar project’s job requirements, BT Solterra Solar, LLC, as a 143MW project, has committed to create one qualified job,” Brandon Westlake, senior tax consultant for Cummings Westlake property tax advisers, wrote in a letter to Stickels with the application.
The 143 MW facility will all be located within Saltillo ISD. Panel placement is subject to change but for purposes of this application, the Project anticipates using approximately 321,617 PV modules or equivalent and 49 inverters.
The “Qualified Investment and qualified property” for the requested 313 agreement with Saltillo ISD would include “solar modules/panels, tracking equipment, racking and mounting structures, O&M building, substation, inverters boxes, combiner boxes, meteorological equipment, foundations, roadways, paving, fencing, collection system, generation transmission lines, interconnection facilities, SCADA systems, transformers, fire suppression systems and all necessary ancillary equipment for commercial generation of electricity.”
The map in TAB 11 shows the potential locations of improvements within Saltillo ISD boundaries; however, the final number of panels and inverters and the location of each of these facilities is dependent upon ongoing negotiations with power purchasers and other factors. That application, however, said the project is “anticipated to begin in the Q1 2027 with completion by December 31, 2027.”
The 313 application also notes Belltown Power Texas anticipates producing final proof of a reinvestment zone or enterprise zone for the proposed solar powered electric generating facility known as BT Solterra Solar, LLC, by April 2022.
The company anticipates asking for a 100% tax incentive from the $0.8688 Saltillo ISD maintenance and operations tax, a 100% tax incentive from Hopkins County’s tax rate and a 100 percent tax incentive from Hopkins County Hospital District’s $0.22 per $100 valuation tax rate. BT Solterra Solar, LLC, being built in Hopkins County is contingent on the tax incentives, “due to the extremely competitive power market in Texas.”
“The property tax liabilities of a project without tax incentives in Texas lowers the return to investors and financiers to an unacceptable level at today’s contracted power rates under a PPA. A signed PPA in the Texas market is at a much lower rate than other states because of competitively low electricity prices. Both parties of the PPA have an escape clause if the terms of the PPA cannot be met. Without the tax incentives in Texas, a project with a PPA becomes non-financeable. Therefore, this appraised value limitation is critical to the ability of the proposed Project to move forward as currently sited,” the Chapter 313 application made to Saltillo ISD and the Comptroller’s Office states.
About Belltown Power
Belltown Power started in the United Kingdom in 2013 as a fully integrated renewable energy power company. With a small, dedicated development, investment, and engineering team, Belltown delivered over 23 projects across onshore wind, solar PV, and hydro projects during its first four years. Since early 2020, the UK team has been focusing on the greenfield development of onshore wind sites.
In early 2017, Belltown expanded into the United States of America to kick-start its next phase of growth with a focus on solar and energy storage development. Within the US, Belltown identified ERCOT and PJM as two key areas of focus with a highly liquid electricity market, low solar penetration, and ample capacity for additional development in many areas.
In the US, Belltown has accomplished rapid growth since inception with 330MW of solar projects already connected into the ERCOT network, an additional 650MW nearing construction, and a further pipeline of over 2GW at various stages of development.
Beyond renewable energy, the Belltown Group established a sustainable farming operation in the US that currently owns and operates 7,000 acres with a target of 50,000 acres across 8-10 regional hubs including Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. The business model of Belltown Farms includes transitioning land to USDA certified organic and operating these farms in line with regenerative principles.
Donation Will Help Fund Thanksgiving Meal For Senior Citizens
Karon Weatherman accepted a donation Monday morning on behalf of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, to help fund Thanksgiving meals for senior citizens.
Bill Pentak with Open Doors public relations presented the oversized check for $1,000 to Weatherman on behalf of Engie, the corporation behind the planned Dike Solar project, during public forum at the first portion of the Nov. 22 regular meeting of Hopkins County Commissioners Court.
“Ryan Economy could not be here today. He’s traveling for the Thanksgiving week but he wanted to be here, so I’m filling in for Ryan Economy and for Engie, and I’m proud to do so,” Pentak said. “As I’ve shared with you, they are one of world’s most environmentally ethical and community minded power developers. As I’ve shared in the past, they have set aside $900,000 between the time solar farm enters commercial operations through it’s life to do good things for the Dike community and for Hopkins County,” Pentak said during Monday’s check presentation.
Pentak thanks Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley for making the Engie representatives aware of some needs in the community, specifically the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center.
“I would like to make a commitment to Commissioner Bartley that we intend to be good business neighbors and contributing members of this community for years to come,” Pentak said.
Weatherman, director of marketing/programs for the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, said the donation will help fund costs of a Thanksgiving meal for senior citizens in Hopkins County.
Bartley thanked Pentak and Engie for making the donation to benefit the Senior Citizens Center, and complimented Weatherman for the work she does at the Senior Citizens Center, which not only feeds senior citizens in the community, but provides special events for them such as Thanksgiving, oversees weekly and daily activities that give senior citizens and opportunity to get out and enjoy fellowship with one another as well as a purpose.
“Due to her determination we’re going to have a new senior center before too long. She’s been the driving force behind this,” Bartley.
Lady Cats Basketball Have Mid-Afternoon Showdown Against Liberty Eylau on Tuesday Game Day
Coach Erica Delley’s squad are the only team in action on this Tuesday, Nov. 23 game day.
The women’s basketball team have had a busy two days.
Yesterday, they travelled to Mineola to take on the Lady Yellowjackets.
It was another mid-afternoon showdown, just like today’s versus Liberty Eylau at 12:45 P.M.
The Lady Cats played a hard-fought match against the Lady Yellowjackets but could not get the win in a 40-29 loss in Mineola.
The loss dropped the women’s basketball team’s record to 0-8.
While the women’s basketball team has dealt with injury issues dating back to last year, Sulphur Springs has managed to find ways to score, but Mineola (5-4) pulled away in a tough loss for Coach Erica Delley’s squad.
They have the chance to put that game behind them and get their first win on the season at home when they host Liberty Eylau today in another mid-afternoon match at 12:45 P.M.
Today’s contest on this Nov. 23 Tuesday game day gets underway with the junior varsity two squad, starting at 11:30 A.M. followed by the varsity team.
Tuesday’s Lady Cats-L.E. non-district match-up will be broadcasted on to KSST 1230 AM.
If given permission, we will also be live-streaming the game on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Time to Give to the Golden Agers Gift Tree at Seniors Center!
Each year, Karon Weatherman hosts a Golden Agers Gift Tree at the Sulphur Springs Seniors Center. Each of the individuals who have a tag on the tree are housebound and may have wishes for personal needs at Christmas time. If you would like to “adopt” a Senior Citizen whose name is on the tree, just purchase some of the items needed by that person, which are listed on their Golden Agers tag on the tree. Frequent requests are slippers, robe, bath and personal needs items, games and snack foods. The gifts you select need to be wrapped and brought back to the Senior Citizen Center between December 6th and December 17th. Then, the gifts will be distributed during Christmas week by Seniors Center volunteers. According to Karon, your gift may bless a Senior, but you will reap the biggest blessing as the anonymous giver!
Happy Thanksgiving From The Sulphur Springs CHRISTUS Family To Yours
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
[email protected]
Happy Thanksgiving!
From our family at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Sulphur Springs to yours, we are thankful for the opportunity to serve this community through our mission of ‘extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ’. It is our honor and privilege, every single day.
Carter BloodCare Blood Drive: The current blood supply is severely low
Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive in the CBC bus at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs in the front parking lot on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call or Text (800) 366-2834 or visit their website at www.carterbloodcare.org. As a thank you, donors will receive a long-sleeved shirt.
Flu Shots: Do not Delay, Get Yours Today!
Flu shots are available at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, 105 Medical Plaza. We welcome walk-ins or by appointment; to schedule call 903.885.3181.
Thank you for your patience!
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, please expect “longer than usual” wait times in the Emergency Department. 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.
COVID Vaccines
Due to the holiday, there will be NO COVID Vaccine Clinics this week
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.
- Minor-age visitors must be accompanied by an adult, be free of symptoms and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- 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 for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- 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)
- Types of Visitors:
Services
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs
PLEASE NOTE – due to limited staffing, the Urgent Care may be forced to change its hours without notice … We recommend calling prior to your arrival to check the status of availability. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The CHRISTUS Urgent Care Hours of Operation is as follows:
- In-Person Care Hours: Monday through Friday, 9-5; Saturday and Sunday, Closed
- Virtual Visit Hours: Monday-Friday, 8-5
- To schedule a virtual visit, please visit urgentcare.christushealth.org, then select your location and click “Virtual Visit”
The Urgent Care is located at 1339 S. Broadway, 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
Police Find Wanted Man While Following Up On A Suspected Burglary In Progress
Sulphur Springs Police responded to a possible burglary in progress on South Locust Street at 11:50 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. Upon arrival, they observed a man inside the residence in question.
The 28-year-old Como man did not have the owner or lessee’s permission to be there. He allegedly exited the back window of the residence, where he was detained by officers. EMS was contacted and responded at the location after the man complained of arm pain, but the officers indicated it did not appear to be broken, SSPD Officer Silas Whaley noted in arrest reports.
A records check showed the man, identified in arrest reports as Jovanni Vargas, to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest for an assault of a family or household member that impeded circulation or breathing, Whaley noted in arrest reports. The Como man was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, and transported to jail, and booked for criminal trespassing as well as the warrant for the March 2019 felony assault charge.
Vargas’ bond was set at $2,000 on the trespassing charge, but was held Monday evening, Nov. 22, 2021, on the other.
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.
Wildcats Basketball Gets Good Win in Sherman Against the Bearcats 87-51
Coach Brandon Shaver got good scoring from his team en route to a huge 87-51 win in Sherman against the Bearcats on Monday, Nov. 22.
The Wildcats finished the victory with six players in double figures.
Kordrick Turner lead the way with 18 points, and two more Sulphur Springs players (Justin Haire and Malachi Myles) ended up with 16 in the win in Sherman (3-1).
The men’s basketball team led 18-14 after one and while both teams scored 13 in the second, the Wildcats still led 41-27 at the half.
After that, it was all Sulphur Springs all the time as Coach Shaver’s team cruised by the Bearcats, outscoring the opposition 46-24 to the tune of a huge 87-51 win over Sherman.
Three more Wildcats ended in double figures; Branson Lynn and Caleb Alexander both finished the game with 11 points and Jackson Darrow added 10 in the win. Cason Arrington scored five versus Sherman.
The win over the Bearcats brings the men’s basketball team’s season record to 4-0.
Next up, Coach Shaver and his squad will be back in action on Saturday when they take on Henderson at the SSHS Main Gym.
That contest on Saturday, Nov. 27 is set to begin starting with junior varsity at noon, followed by the varsity teams at 1:30 P.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.
911 Call From Inactive Phone Results In Search Of Residence, 3 Controlled Substance Arrests
A 911 call from an inactive phone to emergency dispatchers Sunday night ultimately resulted in sheriff’s officers responding at a Cumby address, where a search resulted in three controlled substance arrests.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson, Sgt. Scott Davis and Deputy Bobby Osornio responded at 6:26 p.m. Nov. 21, 2021, on Williams Street in Cumby. They were told a 911 call had been made using an inactive phone, the female caller was identified only as a person who frequents the residence before the call was disconnected. Sheriff’s office records showed officers had responded previously at the location to reports of threats and disturbance calls, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Upon arrival, the deputies observed the 48-year-old resident, Rodney Edward Petrea Sr.; 45-year-old Carmen Celeste Pickle of Gainsville; and two children exit a camper trailer. They advised the officers they did not contact authorities. Petrea agreed to let officers search the trailer to verify there were no other females inside. They also contacted 58-year-old Buddy Louis Sikes of Lone Oak, who was reportedly asleep in a van at the address, according to arrest reports. Buddy Louis Sikes is a registered sex offender.
While the officers didn’t locate another woman, they did allege finding a pill bottle with a bag of suspected marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in plain view. They exited with the suspected marijuana and asked for Petrea’s permission to search the trailer further for additional contraband. When he refused, the deputies contacted HCSO Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford, who sought a search warrant for the Williams Street address in Cumby,
A records check by dispatchers showed Pickle, who is also known by Carmen McAfee and Carmen Pickle-Scaggs, to be wanted by Austin Parole Division on two warrants for violating probation, which she was on for a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. Pickle was transported to Hopkins County jail. The children were released to a guardian who later arrived at the address.
Deputies remained on scene at the location until Weatherford secured the search warrant. The sheriff’s officers located additional drug paraphernalia of the kinds used to smoke marijuana and methamphetamine, multiple empty baggies and digital scales of the kind commonly used to weigh and package the substances. A bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be meth was also located; a small label-less bottle with a pink liquid suspected to be methadone was found in Pickle’s purse inside the trailer.
All suspected contraband was seized, and Petrea and Sikes were taken into custody and transported to jail. The crystal-like substance field-tested positive for meth and weighed 9.02 grams, including packaging. The suspected methadone, according to arrest reports, weighed 21.63 grams, including the container.
Petrea, Sikes and Pickles were all booked into the county jail early Monday morning and there Monday evening, Nov. 22, 2021, in lieu of $35,000 set on the felony possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
Bond for Pickles, was also set at $35,000 on the additional controlled substance charge. She was held on the warrants for violating probation on possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information.
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.
Lady Cats Basketball Drops Close One to Mineola, 40-29
The Lady Cat’s basketball team fought all the way through in a match with the Lady Yellowjackets on Monday, Nov. 22 but lost 40-29 in Mineola.
Coach Erica Delley’s squad had a tough game against a good opponent in Mineola (5-4) but ultimately could not pull it out in a close one to the Yellowjackets.
The loss drops the women’s basketball team’s season record to 0-8.
Sulphur Springs has dealt with injury issues dating back to last year, but add in a few more and Coach Delley has been forced to readjust the varsity roster and as a result are young and still learning how to mesh.
The Lady Cats have found ways to score and stay in games, as proved in Mineola on Monday, Nov. 22.
Unfortunately for the women’s basketball team, the Lady Yellowjackets pulled away to take the victory and had the Lady Cats another tough loss.
They have the chance to put some of those losses behind them and get their first win on the season when they get back on their home court tomorrow.
The Lady Cats basketball team will get right back on the saddle when they host Texarkana’s Liberty Eylau tomorrow on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 12:45 P.M. Junior varsity will get the action going at the SSHS Main Gym tomorrow at 11:30 A.M.
Tuesday’s Lady Cats-L.E. non-district match-up will be broadcasted on to KSST 1230 AM.
If given permission, we will also be live-streaming the game on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
