Buford Park Awaits Stewstock October 22, 23!
Before Buford Park became a crowded cooking contest site, I stopped for a few photos on Thursday to show some of the changes to the landscape of our familiar Stew grounds.
With the 52nd World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, a home football game for the Sulphur Springs Wildcats and a Carnival midway on site, it’s going to be a beehive of activity and fun! Get out and enjoy the 2021 Stew season October 22 and 23!
The main stage, centrally located near the Buford Park Pavilion, where contest information will be broadcast on KSST 1230AM. Behind it, the Pavilion will be used as a dining area for stew-goers. Just across the street to the south will be additional Stew sites and vendor booths 
Near the center of the grounds is a Senior Citizens Dining tent. 
This row of five white tents near the Stage will be used for collecting samples and for ticket sales 
Hungry diners can look for the colored signs to point out chicken stew and beef stew sites. 
Hungry diners can look for the colored signs to point out chicken stew and beef stew sites. 
Marking the stew grounds on the northwest entry to Buford Park stands a huge stew pot, a tribute to our Hopkins County heritage and home of the World Championship cooking contest 
Other events are going on nearby, like the Sulphur Springs Wildcat game at Gerald Prim Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday October 22 
The Arts and Crafts Show at Sulphur Springs High School on Friday October 22 and Saturday October 23 
Carnival midway and rides just west of Gerald Prim Stadium near the Civic Center grounds 
The grounds are bordered by sponsor banners showing hearty support for our Hopkins County Stew tradition! 
Can’t wait for Saturday, Stew Day!
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Students who are Candidates for Homecoming King and Queen
CANDIDATES
These three students from the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus are among the nominees for Homecoming King and Queen at the upcoming Paris Junior College celebration. From left, they are Autumn Teague, Nathan Wyndham and Hannah Chairez.
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.
Traffic Stop During Manhunt Results In Controlled Substance Arrest
Four Others Jailed On Felony Controlled Substance, Related Charges
A traffic stop during a manhunt resulted in Commerce woman’s arrest Wednesday night on a controlled substance charge and Hunt County warrant, according to arrest reports. At least four others were also arrested this week in Hopkins County on felony controlled substance or related charges, according to arrest and jail reports.
County Road 2310 Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Drew Fisher and Josh Davis reported stopping a black Chevrolet SUV spotted on County Road 2310 at 7:43 p.m. Oct. 20, 2021, during a manhunt for a suspect who left the district courtroom Wednesday morning after being placed into handcuffs. They reported suspicious activity as the cause for the stop.
During contact with the occupants, the deputies noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view on the back seat of the SUV. When asked if there was any further contraband in the vehicle, the passenger allegedly extracted from her purse a cigarette carton containing additional drug paraphernalia and a bag containing a crystal-like substance which later tested positive for methamphetamine.
Deputies placed 34-year-old Brooke Lanee McSparrin into custody at 8:07 p.m. Wednesday on a possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. At the jail the substance was determined to weigh 1.5 grams. The Commerce woman too was found to have an outstanding Hunt County warrant for injury to a child, elderly or disabled person.
McSparrin remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, Oct. 21, 2021, on both charges. Bond was set at $25,000 on the third-degree felony controlled substance charg and $35,000 on the Hunt County warrant, according to jail reports.
Wednesday was the second time in two months McSparrin has been jailed locally. She was jailed Sept. 7, 2021, on a for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge and remained in the county jail until her release 6 days later on a $5,000 bond, according to jail records.
Arrested In District Court
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Lester took Steven Craig Krietemeyer into custody at 12:55 p.m. Oct. 19, in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom, on an order revoking the 46-year-old Winnsboro man’s bond on for a May 3, 2021 possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone charge.
Krietemeyer remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday afternoon, Oct. 21, 2021, in lieu of the new $150,000 bond set on the charge, according to jail reports.
He was last booked into Hopkins County jail on May 3, 2021, on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and public intoxication, after being found passed out in the drive-thru lane at a South Broadway Street restaurant. He was released from Hopkins County jail May 5, 2021, on a $20,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail and May 2021 arrest reports.’
Deputy Lester and Deputy Isaac Foley also took Aldis Marivel Rosewell into custody at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 2021, in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom and transported her to jail. The 35-year-old Winnsboro woman was booked into jail at 3:51 p.m. Monday, on a warrant for surety off bond on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance.
Rosewell, who jail reports show is also known by Aldis Marivel Mendez, Aldis Marivel Mendez-Rosewll and Aldis Marivel Reyes, remained in the county jail Thursday afternoon, Oct. 21, 2021, in lieu of the new $35,000 bond set on the charge.
She was last booked into Hopkins county jail on Feb. 3, 2021, on the original controlled substance charge as well as a tampering with or fabricating evidence charge, according to jail reports. She was released on $45,000 in bonds on the two charges on Feb. 9, 2021, according to jail reports.
Airport Road Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs Police Officers E. Jaime and Sean Hoffman stopped a Jeep Compass at 9:41 a.m. Oct. 18, on Airport Road at North Hillcrest Drive. After obtaining the driver’s ID and insurance information, an officer returned to the Jeep to issue a citation and smelled a marijuana odor coming from inside the vehicle.
When asked about the odor, Christopher Adolpho Lutz reportedly admitted he’d smoked earlier that morning and that there was a marijuana grinder in vehicle. The 34-year-old Emory man then handed the paraphernalia to an officer. The driver and passenger were asked to exit the vehicle while police searched it.
A zipped case with suspected methamphetamine was found in console. A bag of suspected marijuana was found in the passenger’s jacket pocket. When asked who the meth belonged to, Lutz allegedly told them since it was his vehicle he’d claim the contraband. Lutz was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Monday for possessing what turned out to be 0.77 gram of suspected methamphetamine, a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Jaime and Hoffman noted in arrest reports.
Lutz, who is listed in jail reports to also use the names Christopher Mark Lutz, Christopher Mark Knight and Christopher Adolpho Loy Lutz, remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in lieu of the $5,000 bond set on the possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B charge, according to jail reports.
I-30 West Traffic Stop
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Chris Sorley stopped a Toyota Tundra at 1:04 p.m. Oct. 17, 2021, on Interstate 30 west at mile marker 120 for speeding. Upon approach of the vehicle, Sorley reported smelling a marijuana odor in the truck. A probable cause search of the pickup revealed a small amount of marijuana wrapped in paper and some THC candy, Sorley alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, Richard Gonzalez Jr. was arrested and booked into Hopkins County jail at 2:08 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports. The 35-year-old Balch Springs man was released from Hopkins County jail on Oct. 18, 2021. His bond was set at $5,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
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.
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.
2021 IJSBA World Finals -Rider Spotlight for Local Rider Andrew Vo
This marks an inaugural year for Andrew Vo, your local Sulphur Springs 12-year-old Junior Jetski racer. Andrew was able to travel to Lake Havasu City, Arizona for 10 days to participated at the IJSBA Jet Ski World Finals – where the best of the best Jetski racers from all over the world battle it out for the coveted world title. This momentous event has been held in Lake Havasu for past 40 years.
This season was Andrew’s first year racing jet skis in the Jettribe Texas series where he respectfully earned a solid first place leader in overall points in the Texas/ Mid-West region. Coming into the World Finals, while facing many riders with higher levels of competition and experience, our expectations were set low.
But with all the emotional ups and downs, Andrew was able to earn a third place spot on the podium for the Junior 10-12 Year-Olds, 4-Stroke Lites class, behind his team mate and friend Tristan Heibert.
Many thanks to Andrew’s teachers at SSMS for their support by allowing Andrew to do his school work on the road. Plus, we could never do all this without Team Nauti Water racing, for adopting Andrew into their team. Their help extended to the aspects of racing including mechanic, tech inspection, launching and retrieving skis from the water, and track practices.
Our gratitude extends to Justin and Hendrix Smith for believing in Andrew, from their encouragements to even driving Andrew’s race ski from Texas to Lake Havasu, Arizona. And last of all, we are thankful to Brian Snyder for standing by Andrew all week from fueling, race practices, race schedules to holding Andrew’s ski at the starting line. All of this would not have happened without the kind heart of Larry Spector, who mentored Andrew throughout the race season!
It is priceless how Andrew has matured this season, with all of racing’s ups and downs. He learned to face defeats, as well as celebrate success with humility. The friendships we have made this year are what really matter the most. We look forward to 2022 race season in Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and planning is underway to race in California and Poland.
FDA Takes Additional Actions On Use Of A Booster Dose For COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday, Oct. 20, took action to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. The agency is amending the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
- The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals:
- 65 years of age and older
- 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
- 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure toSARS-CoV-2
- The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.
- The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
- To clarify that a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
“Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “As the pandemic continues to impact the country, science has shown that vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective way to prevent COVID-19, including the most serious consequences of the disease, such as hospitalization and death. The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated. The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
“The amendments to the emergency use authorizations to include a single booster dose in eligible populations are based on the available data and information and follows the input from the members of our advisory committee who were supportive of the use of a booster dose of these vaccines in eligible populations,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “We are also taking action today to include the use of mix and match boosters to address this public health need. We will work to accrue additional data as quickly as possible to further assess the benefits and risks of the use of booster doses in additional populations and plan to update the healthcare community and public with our determination in the coming weeks.”
Authorization of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose
To support the authorization for emergency use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, the FDA analyzed immune response data from 149 participants 18 years of age and older from the original clinical studies who received a booster dose at least 6 months after their second dose and compared it to the immune responses of 1,055 study participants after completing their two-dose series. The antibody response of the 149 participants against SARS-CoV-2 virus 29 days after a booster dose of the vaccine demonstrated a booster response.
The FDA also evaluated an additional analysis from Moderna comparing the rates of COVID-19 accrued during the Delta variant surge during July and August 2021, which suggest that there is a waning of vaccine effectiveness over time.
Safety was evaluated in 171 participants 18 years of age and older who were followed for an average of approximately six months. The most commonly reported side effects by the clinical trial participants who received the booster dose of the vaccine were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, swollen lymph nodes in same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Of note, swollen lymph nodes in the underarm were observed more frequently following the booster dose than after the primary two-dose series.
Ongoing analyses from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) safety surveillance systems have identified increased risks of inflammatory heart conditions, myocarditis and pericarditis, following vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, particularly following the second dose. Typically, onset of symptoms has been a few days following vaccination. The observed risk is higher among males under 40 years of age, particularly males 18 through 24, than among females and older males.
The Moderna COVID-19 single booster dose is half of the dose that is administered for a primary series dose and is administered at least six months after completion of a primary series of the vaccine.
Authorization of Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose
The authorization for emergency use of a single booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is based on the FDA’s evaluation of immune response data in 39 participants from a clinical trial including 24 participants who were 18 through 55 years of age and 15 participants who were 65 years of age and older. The study participants received a booster dose approximately 2 months after their first dose, and the results demonstrated a booster response.
Overall, approximately 9,000 clinical trial participants have received two doses of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine administered at least two months apart and of these, approximately 2,700 have had at least two months of safety follow-up after the booster dose. Janssen’s safety analyses from these studies have not identified new safety concerns.
Earlier analyses from the FDA and CDC safety surveillance systems suggest an increased risk of a serious and rare type of blood clot in combination with low blood platelets following administration of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. This serious condition is called thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). People who developed TTS after receiving the vaccine had symptoms that began about one to two weeks after vaccination. Reporting of TTS has been highest in females ages 18 through 49 years. In addition, safety surveillance suggests an increased risk of a specific serious neurological disorder called Guillain Barré syndrome, within 42 days following receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.
Authorization of “Mix and Match” Booster Dose
Today, the FDA is also authorizing the use of heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose for currently available (i.e., FDA-authorized or approved) COVID-19 vaccines. Following a presentation of clinical trial data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee’s discussion of information submitted for consideration, along with the agency’s evaluation of the available data, the FDA has determined that the known and potential benefits of the use of a single heterologous booster dose outweigh the known and potential risks of their use in eligible populations.
A single booster dose of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines may be administered as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine. The eligible population(s) and dosing interval for a heterologous booster dose are the same as those authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.
For example, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a single booster dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose) or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least two months after receiving their Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine primary vaccination.
In another example, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients falling into one of the authorized categories for boosters (65 years of age and older, 18 through 64 years of age at high-risk of severe COVID-19, and 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2) may receive a booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose), Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after completing their primary vaccination.
The agency recognizes that health care providers and COVID-19 vaccine recipients will have questions about booster doses. The individual fact sheets for each available vaccine provide relevant information for health care providers and the vaccine recipients. The agency encourages health care providers to also follow the recommendations that will be provided by the CDC following a meeting of their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and formal recommendations signed by the CDC director.
Related Information:
TAMUC To Honor Veterans At 31st Annual Veterans Vigil
COMMERCE, Texas — Texas A&M University-Commerce will continue its storied tradition of honoring our nation’s veterans by hosting the 31st Annual Veterans Vigil. The event is scheduled for Nov. 12, and the theme is “The Forever Oath.”
Brigadier General Mike H. McClendon (Ret.) is this year’s guest speaker for the opening ceremony. McClendon is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
He initially flew the A-7D fighter in Tactical Air Command and was part of the initial cadre to introduce the A-10 into the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. From the USAFE, McClendon attended the Air Force’s Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was a chief A-10 test pilot and director of flight tests. He also served as the deputy program manager for the highly classified special program.
Later, he performed consecutive tours with the Air Force in research and development and senior leadership roles, including the F-22 System Program Office, Air Force Material Command Headquarters Directorate of Operations, Air Force Research Laboratory and the former AFC2ISR.
McClendon is a senior pilot with over 10,000 hours in more than 35 aircraft types, ranging from helicopters to fighters to transports. As a civilian, he is a captain for a major airline, flying internationally.
Some of his major awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with a bronze hourglass.
A&M-Commerce is proud to announce that scholarship winner Major Christopher Brecheisen (Ret.) will host this year’s Veterans Vigil. Colonel James Bass (Ret.) will serve as honorary flame lighter.
From Nov. 9 through 12, veterans will receive a 10% discount in the Sam Rayburn Student Center Bookstore on clothing, supplies or gifts with their military ID or veteran status proof. Veterans will also receive a free lunch courtesy of Sodexo on Nov. 11 with military ID or veteran status proof.
The Vigil will begin with a reception starting at 10 a.m. in the foyer outside Rayburn Student Center Conference Rooms. The opening ceremony will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Rooms.
Following the opening ceremony, a vigil flame will be lit. It will burn continuously until it is extinguished at the Closing Ceremonies held on the walking mall of the RSC at 4 p.m.
For more information on the Veterans Vigil or activities, view the website at tamuc.edu/Veterans-and-Military-Services or contact Dustin Pearson at [email protected] or 903.886.5123.
About Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to Educate. Discover. Achieve. With an enrollment of 11,624 students, the university is the third-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. The 2,100-acre Commerce campus provides many opportunities for students to learn and grow. The university offers more than 130 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A vibrant student experience includes 14 NCAA Division II athletic teams, a thriving Greek system and more than 120 student-led organizations. Classes are delivered on-site in Commerce, Corsicana, Dallas, McKinney, Frisco and Mesquite. In November 2021, the university will open A&M-Commerce at Dallas, located at 8750 North Central Expressway.
Man Who Escaped From District Courtroom Wednesday Still Wore Handcuffs When Located
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office launched a search Wednesday morning for a 53-year-old Sulphur Springs man who managed to escape from the district court room after being placed into custody; the Sulphur Springs man still wore handcuffs when located shortly after midnight, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
(HCSO jail photo)
HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward, in arrest reports, reported being notified Oct. 20, that Daryl Christopher Simmons, a man scheduled during the 9 a.m. court session in the 8th Judicial District Court for arraignment on manufacture or delivery and possession of Penalty Group 1 controlled substances in drug-free zones charges, had escaped from custody. At some point he was placed into handcuffs, but managed to escape from the courtroom, reportedly under the guise of using the restroom according to individuals said to have been in the district courtroom at the time.
At 10:27 a.m. Oct. 20, Lake Country Crime Stoppers issued a social media post with a prior jail photo of Simmons,and two images taken from area video of a white 2001 Mitsubishi car with body damage he was reportedly last seen driving in. He was reported at that time to have last been seen driving the car east on Jefferson Street. The social media post asked the community to assist law enforcement in their efforts to locate Simmons, by calling the sheriff’s office of Lake Country Crime Stoppers with any information regarding Simmon’s whereabouts.
The message was shared on the sheriff’s office’s social media page about 10 minutes later. During the day Wednesday, HCSO updated the post, noting that the “the suspect’s vehicle was located today near his residence. A search was conducted with TDCJ K9’s. The suspect was not located in the search. The investigation is ongoing.”
During his shift, Steward reported contacting Simmons by cell phone, and pretending to be an acquaintance of Simmons. The pair allegedly discussed narcotic-related information. During the conversation, Simmons reportedly told the officer he was at his rural residence.
Sgt. Steward and HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Josh Davis went to the man’s residence late Wednesday night. The front door was breached so the officers could make entry into the CR 2310 residence. The sheriff’s officer reported seeing Simmons walk down the hallway of his residence; he still wore the handcuffs put on him in district court, the deputies alleged in arrest reports. Simmons was arrested around midnight on warrants revoking his bond on both controlled substance charges and booked into jail on just before 1 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
Simmons, who is also known to use the aliases Bryson Alphonso Hill, Charles Kartney James, Charles Karney James, Triple OG and Simmons Schristopher, remained in Hopkins County jail on both charges late Thursday morning, Oct. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
The arrest marks the third time Simmons has been in Hopkins County jail in the past 7 months. He was also arrested and jailed for possession of less than 1 gram of the Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone March 24-30, 2021. Simmons was jailed June 11-15, 2021, on a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram ore more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to jail records.
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.
National Drug ‘Take Back’ Day Collection Will Be Saturday October 23 at 223 Rosemont St. Parking Lot
PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY SATURDAY OCT. 23, 2021
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Posse/ DEA
National Pharmaceutical Take Back
On October 23, 2021, from 10am-2pm, in conjunction with the DEA, The Hopkins
County Sheriff’s Posse will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local
law enforcement agencies focused on removing potentially dangerous controlled
substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. A national take-back day will
provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or
unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law
enforcement officers for destruction. This one-day effort will bring national focus
to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
*Liquids (including intravenous solutions), injectable items, and syringes will not
be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
- DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at the collection
location provided lithium batteries are removed.
Collection Site
DISTRICT COURT PARKING LOT
282 Rosemont St.
Sulphur Springs, Tx.
District & Campus Improvement Plans, Policy Update, Personnel Recommendations Considered During Sulphur Springs SSISD Board Meeting
Fine Arts Letter Jacket Policy, Head Start Policies Discussed As Well
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees worked their way through their regular October agenda this week rather quickly. Approved were campus and district improvement plans, several Head Start documents, a policy update, and 10 personnel recommendations. During public forum, a parent and grandmother asked the school board to review policy requirements for students to letter and earn letter jackets to ensure fairness, consistency and effective communication of those specifications. Trustees also received an update on planned Red Ribbon Week activities on Sulphur Springs ISD campuses and Head Start training.
Personnel Changes
Following an executive session Monday night, SSISD Board of Trustees approved four resignations, five new hires and one campus swap.
Bruce Taylor resigned as a special education aide at Barbara Bush Primary, and Ramona (Leah) Gore was approved to join the Bush Primary faculty as a special education teacher.
Sulphur Springs High School lost three teachers, science teacher Steven Allemang, culinary arts teacher Lauren Arden and English teacher Jennifer White. Dana Strain will fill the English teacher opening at SSHS, and Linda Thompson was hired as a special education aide for the high school Connections program.
Bryan Guigere will continue to serve as a special education aide, but moves from the Sulphur Springs Middle School campus to Rowena Johnson Primary. Shelby Polk was approved to fill one special education aide opening at SSMS. Bowie Primary also has anew special education aide, Irene Bautista.
Head Start
Board members were provided with copies of the Head Start Director’s Report for August/September, Policy Council Minutes for September and Financial Report for September. The school board approved as submitted as part of the consent agenda Head Start Policy Council Bylaws, Organizational flow chart for Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center Head Start Program, Head Start Mission Statement and Philosophy and Head Start Personnel Policy Summary.
Head Start Director/Principal Angela Edwards provided required Head Start training for school board members via information from a PowerPoint presentation.
Edwards noted no major changes from last year, but did emphasize a few key points of the training. As the district’s governing body, the school board’s role in the Head Start program is overseeing legal and fiscal responsibility, safe guarding fiscal funding.
Also, Edward reminded that Head Start is different from pre-kindergarten, each have different eligibility. Many parents do not understand how students are chosen for Head Start, or why one student might be accepted into the program and another is not. There is a punishment if a district enters an ineligible student in Head Start ahead of an eligible student.
When applying for the Head Start program, data provided by parents is entered into the Head Start Child Plus database. A report prioritizing students by need is generated by Child Plus. Priority is given to the need of a student. AT least 90 percent of students must live in a home in which the household income is at or below the established poverty level, with the other 10 percent of enrolled Head Start students identified as special needs. The SSISD Head Start program enrollment is limited to 179 students, including 17 students identified as having special needs Ten percent may be from families whose income is over the poverty level. After Head Start slots are filled with all low-income eligible applicants, if there are any remaining slots, the district is allowed to fill some with students whose household income is above the low-income eligibility level, but no more than 10 percent. Thirty-five percent of enrolled students may be in the 130 percent household income category following the list from the Child Plus database, Edwards explained.
SSISD Board President Robert Cody commended Edwards and the Head Start staff for their work, which includes a tremendous amount of paperwork.
School board member Robbin Vaughn again volunteered to serve as the school board representative to the Head Start Policy Council for 2021-2022.
District/Campus Improvement Plans
SSISD State and Federal Programs Coordinator Jason Evans presented for board approval the district improvement plans. He noted that a needs assessment was conducted on each campus, then strategies identified for each campus and district to use to meet those goals.
The current plans were adapted to meet the mandate to document Title 1 funding and state Comp Ed funding. An audit was performed. The plans include the needs, funding and what it’s being used for.
Each campus plan has the same four common Goals, as does the district plan, Evans explained. Those goals include:
- Students will be encouraged and challenged to meet their fullest potential.
- Students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug-free and conducive to learning.
- Students will be taught by highly qualified and exceptionally trained staff
- SSISD will encourage parents, family and community engagement in school activities.
One example of the strategies in the plan is the addition of math interventionists, just as there are reading interventionists, to help improve third graders improve math scores on state tests. Federal Title 1 funds are being used to add interventionists at the primary campuses. This is listed in goal 1, Objective 2 – narrowing gaps, and also meets Strategy 4.
SSISD has had a Strategic Planning Committee for two years who’ve worked to identify needs, establish goals and strategies to meet them. This year, they came up with and added 5 goals to the district and campus improvement plans, identified as Strategic Plan Goals:
- Innovative learning opportunities that foster risk taking and student passing. (Object 7, Goal 1)
- Need for social and emotional learning, implementing plans for staff and students (Goal 2)
- Excellent facilities where students can pursue their passions and meet their needs (Goal 2)
- All leaders and learners will receive individualized training and continual support (Goal 3)
- Students will be provided with opportunities to pursue their passion and partnership with families and communities (Goal 4)
Those are six different goals and strategies that have been added to the district and campus plans. Evans said the process begins in the spring with the looking at data from STAAR tests, Reading A to Z program, common assessments; and usage reports detailing the number of times each campus logs in to specific software, how much it is used, how much it costs per login.
These things are plugged in to the goals, where they are discussed at the administrative level, with the curriculum team, at the campus level, the District Advisory Council meetings. In the spring, each of the groups look at offerings to determine whether various programs are still needed, any needs not listed in the plan that should be addressed.
Then, they begin identifying potential funding sources for the various needs, document those in the plan and write strategies for those needs. That’s all combined to form campus and district improvement plans, which are updated regularly, and presented at the appropriate time each year to the school board.
SSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district and campus improvement plans as presented by Evans at the Oct. 18, 2021 meeting.
Campus and district improvement plans can be viewed on the district website, www.ssisd.net, by selecting “About SSISD,” then clicking on SSISD District and Campus Improvement Plans.
Policy Update
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams then presented for board consideration Local Policy Manual Update EIF, which has to do with academic achievement and graduation. Notably, the policy change adds to foundation program plan a clause about extenuating circumstances clause. Students under the foundation program will still be required to complete 5 credits in addition to the number mandated by the state for graduation without an endorsement, as authorized by state laws and rules. The clause allows an exception to that if the superintendent determines there are extenuating circumstances. Students who have an endorsement are required to complete only 1 credit above credits mandated by the state.
Letter Jackets
Katie Martin and Kate Evans told the school board that their choir student had difficulty getting his letter jacket, despite placing and qualifying for state more than once. They reported Evans’ son was measured last year for a jacket, but when they were awarded this year, did not receive one. He was told by his instructor he did not qualify for one because he was not in the class this year.
He had planned to be in choir, but due to COVID, was told just before his senior year started that the counselors were unable to make his schedule work to include all of the required classes as well as choir this year. Both he and his brother have been in choir since 6th grade. He has had choir successes every year except his sophomore year, when all UIL and school related activities ceased when schools were ordered to close after spring break due to COVID-19.
Although through circumstances beyond his control, he was unable to fit choir into his schedule. Thus, he was told by his instructor without the class he is ineligible to receive the letter jacket. Evans and her mother, Mrs. Katie Martin, contend their student earned the letter and should receive the jacket. Requiring him to be in the class this year to reap the benefits of a prior term’s achievement is akin to having a worker return to work at a job this week in order to receive pay earned last week, Evans argued.
School policy regarding students eligibility to letter in a school activity is set by each department head. They were told the instructor gave their singer the current policy. However, Evans said, she never saw it, not even an email. Her child worked hard, going above and beyond the call for choir. They believe measuring him for the jacket, then denied it, and only telling him 6-8 weeks into the year that he wouldn’t be receiving one after all was not right. They appealed to school personnel, working their way up the chain to Principal Derek Driver, who after checking into the matter agreed the choir student probably should have gotten a jacket. Instead of putting the order in, the young choral musician’s mother and grandmother noted, their student was told to go order it and pick it up.
“It’s not the student’s job to order it. It’s the place of the coach, head of department, to order it and honor the student in front of peers. He was denied that. He was told two times he did not qualify, then when he did, he was told to go order it. He was fitted his junior year,” Martin said.
While their singer has ordered and is getting his letter jacket for choir, they would like to see change regarding requirements for lettering in an activity and earning a letter jacket. They would like to see qualifications printed and included in student handbooks, one a memo or poster and in school policy so no other student experiences the disheartening frustration their student experienced. They also asked for a uniform policy for lettering and earning patches for letter jackets. When implemented, the policy should remain the same from the time a student is a freshman through the end of senior year. If letter qualifications change, the change, they believe, should apply to entering freshmen, not seniors who’ve worked hard to meet previously set standards. They say their student worked hard his junior and sophomore years to go to region and state choir contests, and should receive the recognition for the successes that hard work achieved.
The comments were voiced during public forum at Monday evening’s regular school board meeting. SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody thanked the women for providing “useful information” which will be taken under advisement. Cody said they can expect to hear back from school staff regarding the matter.
School administrators talked with the pair briefly after the school board meeting regarding the issue.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams today told KSST that the district is looking into the issue to ensure the police sin place make sense and are proper for each activity. it is typical for the lead sponsor or coach to communicate to students their expectations as well as requirements for lettering in their activity, whether that’s FFA, football, volleyball, cheerleading, band, choir or something else. The district does not currently have ay set policy for earning a letter jacket as each activity is as unique as it’s schedule, level of difficulty and requirements. For instance, football and track are very different, not just in the way the activities are conducted and physical requirements and gear but also when each is held. Administrators have asked for department heads and coach to be contacted and surveyed regarding lettering in their area and are looking at it to see if the requirements make sense and are property.
Lady Cats Volleyball Drops Four Game Set in Edgewood
Coach Bailey Dorner’s program was able to jump out to a 1-0 set lead, but lost three straight sets to drop a four game match to Edgewood.
The Lady Cats volleyball team were originally set to have a bye on their schedule, but Coach Dorner added another game to the mix to make sure her team was prepared for the playoffs.
After set one it looked like a good decision, with Sulphur Springs taking a tight first set 25-22 to take the 1-0 lead over the Lady Bulldogs.
Set two proved to be Edgewood’s time, as they won the set 25-17 to tie it up and won two more sets, both with scores of 25-19 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs to win the match 3-1.
The loss dropped the Lady Cats season record to 20-15 overall (still 6-4 district).
Also, Longview’s five set loss to Marshall Tuesday officially eliminated the Lady Lobos, so Sulphur Springs is officially playoff bound.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her volleyball team will be back at home for their final home game of the regular season.
It should prove to be another good one as Sulphur Springs will host the Hallsville Lady Cats.
Hallsville comes in to the game with a 8-3 district record and in third place of District 15-5A.
If Sulphur Springs can topple Hallsville on Friday, senior night for the Lady Cats, and win next Tuesday in Longview, Coach Dorner’s program could slide in to third place for the playoffs.
But before they can look ahead to closing out their season they must first get through an always-tough Hallsville squad on senior night at the SSHS Main Gym.
Friday’s festivities will begin at 4:15 P.M. to honor seven seniors in the volleyball program and will follow with the varsity showdown at 4:30 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.
