TWC Debuts ‘Start My VR’ Online Self-Referral for Vocational Rehabilitation Services
AUSTIN ⎯ The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is introducing “Start My VR” an online self-referral portal for prospective vocational rehabilitation customers, providing a convenient way for individuals with disabilities who are seeking employment to inquire about Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services and/or be connected to a VR staff member.
“Start My VR offers individuals with disabilities a way to connect with VR Services at their convenience and take their first step toward achieving their employment goals,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC remains focused on helping every Texas job seeker connect to their next career opportunity.”
Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services supports individuals with physical or mental disabilities in achieving their employment goals. VR Services are designed to help an individual live independently and address employment barriers related to a disability, and support eligible individuals as they prepare for, obtain, retain or advance in employment.
“Vocational Rehabilitation Services are staffed by teams of rehabilitation professionals, whose priority is to provide services and support to individuals with disabilities to ensure that they may fully participate in the labor market and live independent lives,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “VR Services can often be a life-changing journey, which can begin with ‘Start My VR.’”
VR Services are personalized to an individual’s needs and can include assessments and diagnostics, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and cognitive therapies, among other services. VR Services, a core partner of the Texas Workforce System, may also include career-focused education, training, and apprenticeships, job development, paid work experience, among other employment supports.
“Texas employers that make disability inclusiveness a priority in their workplace have demonstrated increased employee retention, employee satisfaction, and innovation – all of which contribute to a competitive business advantage,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “Through ‘Start My VR’ we want to reach more individuals with disabilities to ensure they are aware of how VR services can benefit them, and support our goal to ensure that Texas employers benefit from the many talented individuals with disabilities who can join the workforce.”
In addition to receiving inquiries about VR Services, the Start My VR system also can receive inquiries for the Older Individuals who are Blind program, or VR-OIB.
VR-OIB services are designed to assist individuals age 55 and older adjust to the disability of blindness or visual impairment based on their specific needs. These services may include counseling and evaluations about vision loss, information and referral to community resources, assistive technology, diabetes education, or independent living skills training, which may include training in orientation and mobility and daily living skills.
To find out more about Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services, visit https://twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/vocational-rehabilitation-services
To find out how your business can benefit from hiring individuals with disabilities or to obtain information on employee accommodation, contact a Vocational Rehabilitation Business Relations Coordinator visit https://www.twc.texas.gov/businesses/vocational-rehabilitation-business-relations
Sulphur Springs Hotel Receives Best of Choice, Ring Of Honor Awards From Choice Hotels International
“Best of Choice” and “Ring of Honor” Awards
Sulphur Springs, Texas – June 29, 2021) – The Clarion Pointe hotel of Sulphur Springs, Texas has been recognized with prestigious “Best of Choice” and “Ring of Honor” awards from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), franchisor of the Clarion Pointe brand.
The “Best of Choice” designation is awarded to the top hotels within the company’s domestic and international portfolio. The Ring of Honor Award designation goes only to the top 1% of hotels within the brand, representing a tremendous accomplishment.
The hotel’s staff has demonstrated an exceptional focus on guest satisfaction and dedication to superior service. Award criteria are evaluated by Choice Hotels through its official property ranking reports.
“As a leading hotel franchisor, we count on our owners to make sure each guest that stays at each and every one of our hotels feels welcome, wanted and respected,” said Tim Tobin, vice president, franchisee onboarding and learning, Choice Hotels. “Award-winning hotels like the Clarion Pointe Sulphur Springs have demonstrated their commitment to delivering on this brand promise and more, and we are proud to honor their accomplishments as an example for others to follow.”
One hotel was selected from each Choice brand in the domestic (and international portfolio where available) for a Best of Choice award for their commitment to superior guest service and operational excellence. The properties rank among the top in Choice Hotels’ system for achieving high performance scores and exceptional guest ratings. The Ring of Honor recognizes the hotels within each Choice brand that rank the highest in guest satisfaction as determined by outstanding likelihood to recommend scores from guests.
The Sulphur Springs hotel is one of 18 to receive the 2021 Best of Choice award, and among 10 Clarion Pointe hotels to receive the Ring of Honor Award, according to a news releases from Choice Hotels International, Inc.
Clarion Pointe Sulphur Springs is owned and operated by Helm Hotels Group, a family-owned company with over 35 years of experience in Texas.
“We could not win these types of awards without our extremely dedicated and talented team working at the hotel,” said Charles Helm, Helm Hotels Group Owner and Sulphur Springs resident. “We are thrilled with how much guests love our hotel, which offers a premium local experience, top-notch customer service, and wide-array of amenities that make for a great and memorable stay.”
Clarion Pointe Sulphur Springs participates in the Choice Privileges loyalty rewards program, rated a top loyalty program by both USA Today‘s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards and by U.S. News & World Report. Membership is free and offers fast rewards and exclusive member rates when booking directly at choicehotels.com.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report For June 21-27, 2021
The media report provided by Winnsboro Police Department for the week of June 21-27, 2021, included the following activity:
Arrests
- Kortney Nelson, 29 years old, of Mineola, Texas as arrested June 21, 2021, for driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Dylan Nicholas, 18 years old, of Leesburg, Texas, was arrested June 24, 2021, for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
- Joseph Bearden, 56 years old, of Winnsboro, Texas, was arrested June 25, 2021, for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
- Steven Krietmeyer, 46 years old, of Winnsboro, Texas was arrested June 26, 2021, for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 156 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 62 citations and 64 warnings during this reporting period.
Retirement Reception For KSST Sports Director Don Julian
About 60 people visited the KSST studios Monday, June 28, to help celebrate Don Julian for more than 40 years in broadcasting and to wish him well in retirement.
Julian expressed appreciation for all of the community members who attended the retirement party.
Among the many well wishers were local business people, elected and appointed city and county officials, the district director for a state representative, a few coaches, organization and community leaders, other news professionals, past and present KSST staff, and fans who have all had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Julian over the past 15 years. Many recalled fun things they remembered about Julian, favorite occasions and memories, and their favorite Don Julian catch phrases.
Julian notified KSST Owner Chad Young earlier this month that this spring was his last as a sports broadcaster, that he would soon be retiring. In addition to Young, Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers and Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom also spoke, citing Julian’s kindness, professionalism, and many contributions while covering news and sports for KSST and Channel 18.
The Edge For Wildcats Football Halfway Through Six Week Run
Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens began the fourth week of The Edge for football Monday morning, June 28 at the Multi-Purpose Building.
With football edge lasting six weeks, the Wildcats are officially halfway through the summer strength and conditioning program.
Last week Coach Owens, head football coach of Sulphur Springs, said a high number of athletes were missing from the camp, but that changed Monday as many of his players either returned to the Edge or started coming this week.
The Wildcats football coach said that the number of attendees were still down a bit this week, but then shifted to praising the work ethic of those who have attended the summer strength and conditioning up to this point.
Coach Owens said he is pleased with the way kids are working, adding that his student athletes are getting better. The Wildcats head coach said that the team is in their second of three phases when it comes to weightlifting, which has also been going well.
“The kids that are here,” Coach Owens said, are “getting in shape, they’re responding, [and] things are going well with them.”
While it was difficult to pick out a single position group that has performed well throughout the first three weeks of Edge, Coach Owens for the second time in three weeks applauded the incoming ninth grade class.
“Those guys have had great numbers,” Coach Owens said about the incoming high schoolers, taking it a few steps further by praising the incoming ninth grade attendees for their excellent work ethic.
Coach Owens also mentioned the incoming seventh and eighth graders for also providing an excellent number of athletes who not only wish to better themselves, but the entire team as a unit.
“They continue to work,” the Wildcats head football coach said, adding that him and his staff “keep seeing progress with all those guys.”
Progress is key to the Edge, as Coach Owens as pointed out. As the number of weeks until scrimmages and games begin to continues to dwindles down, the Wildcats head coach and his staff will continue to build on the strong foundation that the Edge has created over the last three weeks.
“Everything is just a progression,” Coach Owens said, “everything [including] percentages, go up.”
The coach then broke down the weightlifting schedule of the Edge, as the first phase was eccentric, which Coach Owens described as negative, followed by isometric weights lasting two weeks, which are a pause phase, and finally the last phase of three is a concentric phase, which Coach Owens described as an explosive phase.
The concentric phase will take the Wildcats right in to their season, the Wildcats head football coach said.
Coach Owens said that the team will continue the concentric phase until the team has an open day, which will be utilized for another isometric or “pause” phase.
The coach said he continues to build on the Edge’s progress by increasing the percentages of maximum weights for an individual, which will help student athletes mentally prep themselves for a long season that will not be won or lost in one game.
For now, the Edge will continue to build on their strong foundation that the summer strength and conditioning program has created.
The Edge for football runs Monday through Thursday at the Multi Purpose Building, from 8 A.M. to 10 A.M. for students entering ninth through twelfth grade, and 10 A.M. until noon for students entering the seventh through ninth grades.
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.
Man Accused Of Committing County Road 4791 Home Burglary
A 20-year-old rural Sulphur Springs resident is accused of committing a County Road 4791 home burglary early Saturday morning.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at 5:11 a.m. June 26, 2021, to a complaint that a male was trying to get into a CR 4791 residence. Upon arrival, Deputy Jason Lavender contacted the suspect, identified as Marco Antonio Sandoval.
Sandoval allegedly broke a bedroom window on the east side of the house, then entered the home. Upon entry, he engaged in a confrontation with the residents. Sandoval admitted to entering the house in an attempt to get money from the residents.
The deputies observed the key to Sandoval’s vehicle on the floor inside the bedroom next to the window he reportedly used to enter the home. The bed sheets in that room also had blood on them. In fact, deputies observed blood spots dotting the floor through the house to the back bedroom. The floor and additional sheets in the back bedroom, where Sandoval allegedly engaged in a confrontation with the residence.
Sandoval was taken into custody at 6:28 a.m. and jailed at 7:25 a.m. June 26, 2021, on a burglary of a habitation charge. He was released from Hopkins County jail later June 26, 2021, on a $35,000 bond on the County Road 4791 home burglary charge.
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.
Seagoville Woman Caught On I-30 In Stolen U-Haul Van That Reeked Of Marijuana
A 46-year-old Seagoville woman was caught Saturday driving a stolen U-Haul van that reeked of marijuana, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender received the broadcast Saturday afternoon from Hunt County Sheriff’s Office Deputy that a stolen U-Haul box van with Arizona license plate was being driven east on Interstate 30 toward Hopkins County. Lavender reported spotting what he believed to be the U-Haul van around, puled in behind it around mile marker 122 at the western edge of Sulphur Springs and confirmed with dispatchers that it was indeed the correct license plate. He then initiated a traffic stop at the 131 mile marker.
Lavender, assisted by HCSO Sgt. Todd Evans contacted the driver, identified as Simetrius Dawn Kelly. She was placed into handcuffs and detained. During the investigation, they learned Kelly’s wife had also been traveling along that stretch of I-30 just ahead of her in a Ford F150 pickup. Evans headed east and was able to locate the black truck.
A strong marijuana odor emitted from both the U-Haul and pickup so the vehicles were transported to the sheriff’s office for further investigation. Both vehicles were searched. Kelly claimed a large dropper-style vial containing suspected THC oil found in the pickup. Additional items of contraband were also allegedly located in the truck.
As a result, Kelly was arrested for unauthorized use of a vehicle, the stolen U-Haul van, and for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, the suspected THC.
Kelly – who is also known as Simetrius Dawn Browngary, Simetrius Dawn Brown, Simetrius Dawn Gary and Simetrius Dawn Garystokes – was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, June 27, 2021, on a $20,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $5,000 on the stolen vehicle charge.
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.
Annual Seniors Ice Cream Event Comes in All Flavors!
Submitted by Karon Weatherman, Sr. Citizen Director
The annual Homemade Ice Cream Freeze Off will be held Tuesday, June 29th at 1:00 at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center. All Senior Citizens are welcome to attend. You guys don’t want to miss this FUN and TASTY Event!
Here’s some features of the contest. Places will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Also we will be giving out 5 Honorable Mentions. Carriage House Manor is Sponsoring 1st 2nd and 3rd Place CANHelp is Sponsoring the 5 Honorable Mentions. The fun thing is that the Seniors get to be the Judges. You will be given 3 Poker Chips when you come in along with your Spoon and Bowl. After you sample all you can eat you will place one of your poker chips into the container in front of your 3 Favorite Ice Cream Flavors. We will count up the Poker Chips and the Flavor with the Most Poker Chips gets 1st Place.. We will award 2nd and 3rd the same way. 5 Honorable Mentions will follow suit.
Flavors of Homemade Ice Cream competing in the 2021 Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center Annual Ice Cream Freeze Off.
Hearts and Hands Homecare – Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake – Meghan Reeves
Hospice Plus – Chocolate Chip Toffee – Angie Sepulveda-Boehler
Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab – Peach Cobbler – Dana Peoples
Hopkins Place – Chocolate Peanut Butter – Britney Brantley
Serenity Plus – Banana Ice Cream – Miachel Herrera
Heritage Home Health – Cantelope – Shelby Romans
Sulphur Springs Imaging – Butterfinger – Stacey Wetzel
Cypress Basin Hospice – Mint Chocolate Chip – Kassie Teal
Embark Care – Britney Iltis – Strawberry
Choice Hospice – Strawberry
Birchwood Nursing and Rehab – Felicia Peasley – Vanilla
Rock Creek — Tina Cox – Cherry Vanilla
Angles Care – Libby Daves – Dutch Chocolate
Wesley House -Judith Beck – Chocolate
Wesley Oaks -Judith Beck – Cherry Nut
Shirley Brock – Heath Bar Crunch
This is always so FUN for everyone and it is a GREAT way to beat the heat.
See you there at SS Senior Citizens Center, 150 MLK Drive
Meal A Day Menu For June 28-July 2, 2021
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County.
The Meal A Day Menu for June 28-July 2, 2021, includes:
- Monday – Chicken Parmesan, Italian Vegetables and Garlic Sticks
- Tuesday – Apricot Glazed Chicken, On a Bed of Rice, Candied Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
- Wednesday – Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole, Corn and Pinto Beans
- Thursday – Chicken Pot Pie, Broccoli and Cheese, and Pickled Beets
- Friday – Cheeseburgers, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Baked Beans, Pickle Spear and Chips
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Sulphur Springs ISD CBE Schedule Set
The Sulphur Springs ISD 2021-22 Credit by Exam (CBE) schedule has been set, and those students hoping to schedule one this summer only have until Tuesday to register.
These tests are offered four times a year for students who hope to attain credit for courses they’ve never had any prior instruction in, per EHDC (Legal) policy. For instance, a student who is especially gifted in a particular subject area might wish to get ahead by testing at or above the required grade on a CBE test to be able to get credit for it without having to take it, then can skip ahead to the next class in that subject area.
According to Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams, no SSISD students attempted CBEs last year, and it is in fact rare for students to do so. However, a schedule is established and approved in case a student wishes to attempt it.
In order to take a CBE, students must register with the school counselor 30 days prior to the testing date, in accordance with the schedule. This allows the district to develop or purchase examinations for acceleration to thoroughly test comprehension of the information presented in the applicable grade level or subject.
The registration deadline and 2021-22 Credit By Exam schedule at SSISD is as follows:
- Register no later than June 29, 2021, in order to take a test on July 30, 2021.
- Register no later than by Nov. 2, 2021, in order to take the test on Dec. 3, 2021;
- Register no later than Jan. 28, 2022, in order to take the test on March 2, 2022; and
- Register no later than April 29, 2022, in order to take the test on June 2, 2022.
Check out EHDC (LEGAL) policy, to learn specific requirements for taking CBE tests and advancing a class or grade.
