Parent Expresses Concerns Regarding SSISD Students’ Use Of iPads, Electronics
A parent addressed Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees his concerns regarding iPads being given to all students and students’ use of iPads as part of their school assignments.
Timothy Perkins told the school board at their regular meeting this week that he objections to all students being issued an iPad or tablet. He said his son was issued an iPad, and over the objections of his parents, and brought it home.
“At first, the school said, ‘Well, it’s required and you have to sign this paper, and you are liable to for up to $400 worth of damage if he breaks it. That didn’t seem like a great idea, you know, because his son had previously broken a tablet,” Perkins told the school board Monday night during the public forum portion of the regular February school board meeting.
Perkins noted that cost could be potentially “detrimental to a family of lesser income than I have,” particularly a single earner household in which a child breaks a tablet. Such a loss could be devastating, he pointed out.
He then noted that said while Travis Primary Principal Michelle Wallace conceded to their request not to agree to the policy, a device is still being sent home with his child anyway. The nature of students’ use of iPads is troubling to Perkins as well.
Perkins said his son routinely comes home once to twice a week with the tablet to “play games.”
“A tablet is strictly for games. Even his math homework he is given a math problem and he is given three possible answers. That’s not bad. He drags a puzzle piece over to the answer. He gets it wrong, drag the second one. He gets it wrong, drags the third one. He’s got it. That’s not math. That’s a game,” Perkins contents. “He’s being taught how to play video games.”
Perkins offered to the school board copies of what he said were several articles, including one from Psychology Today, “about how electronics are damaging to young minds – addictive.”
“That is my concern. These kids are being forced these devices in an attempt to teach them technology. Trust me, I know technology,” Perkins said. “I have a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from A&M Commerce right up the road. I have a masters of science degree in the information systems from Western Governor’s University. I’ve got six or eight different IT certifications, ranging from very basic Network Plus on up to the highly coveted, highly respected Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification (CISSP). It concerns me that this school or this school district wants students to play video games on tablets.”
SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody thanked Perkins for his words and told him that if he cared to share the articles he mentioned they’d take it under advisement, with no further comment on students’ use of iPads.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Team Emerges Victorious on Senior Night
The Saltillo Lions got another tough district win on Senior Night, 83-74 against Avery Tuesday, February 9.
It was a slow start for both teams as Saltillo led Avery 13-6 after one quarter. Even though the Bulldogs outscored the visiting Lions in the second quarter, Saltillo still managed to lead at the half, 32-29. The Lions’ offense came alive in the second half as Saltillo just outscored Avery 23-20 to make it a 55-49 lead at the end of three quarters. While Avery (9-12) did its best trading blows, barely being outscored 28-25 in the final quarter, it still was not enough for the Bulldogs as Saltillo left Senior Night with a tough 83-74 win over Avery.
The Lions remain unbeaten in district play at 10-0. They are 16-7 for the season and are ranked #13 in Class 1A in a TABC Poll.
Tuesday Andrew Redburn led the Lions with 39 points. Chris Boekhorst had 17 points, David Whitworth scored 13 points, Gunner Tarver added 9 points and Colby McCoy and Coy Collins rounded out the scoring for the Lions with 3 and 2 points, respectively.
Next up, the Lions (16-7 overall, 10-0 district) will travel out to Sulphur Bluff to take on the Bears (16-10 overall, 8-3 district) in the final regular season game for Saltillo as the Lions will hope to keep their undefeated district season intact.
Hopkins County, Several Cities To Benefit From Opioid Lawsuit Settlement
Hopkins County and several local cities will benefit from an opioid lawsuit settlement reached and funneled down through the State of Texas and Texas Political Subdivisions Opioid Abatement Fund Council. The funds are to be applied to help with expenses related to programs used to help reduce or do away with opioid abuse in Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
The funding is part of a $573 million settlement reached last week with McKinsey, a company that provided consulting services to opioid companies, “including selling deceptive marketing plans, programs, and advisement to OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma for more than 15 years,” a news release earlier issued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office noted.
The agreement is between 47 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories and McKinsey. Texas is to receive $38.4 million in the settlement to be handed down to municipalities that participated in the settlement, according to the AG’s Office.
“This settlement is the result of ongoing, aggressive action to hold opioid manufacturers and marketers accountable for their deceptive advertisement of highly-addictive pain pills, which spurred an epidemic that left victims and their families with unimaginable consequences. Prescription opioids continue to kill over a thousand Texans every year, and thousands more suffer from health consequences or the addiction or death of a beloved family member,” Attorney General Paxton said in a news release. “Texas will not stand by as countless lives are affected by misleading marketing and dangerous prescriptions. I will continue to do everything I can to protect Texans and help our state heal from this crisis.”
Among the nearby cities that joined the lawsuit and designated to receive funding from the settlement, according to information posted by the Attorney General’s Office, were: Sulphur Springs $124,603, Como $415, Cumby $5,320, Tira $5,320, Winnsboro $28,791 and Yantis $2,072.
Additional nearby counties designated to receive funding from the settlement, according to the AG report, included Hunt County $309,851, Wood County $267,048, Rains County $53,190, Delta County $30,584, Lamar County $141,598, Red River County $29,306 and Franklin County $25,783.
Health Care Region 1 which includes Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red, River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van, Zandt and Wood Counties is to benefit from $38,223,336 from the settlement, according to the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation Term Sheet posted by Paxton’s office.
“When we went into this lawsuit, it was several years ago, our county actually entered into a suit against the opiate companies for the damage that opiate abuse has done in Hopkins County. It’s been a long time coming,” Newsom said Sunday.
Newsom said attorneys have been working on the opioid lawsuit for a number of years. The judge pointed to a stack of papers that he’d received from the attorneys over the years in regard to the lawsuit, each of four stacks of papers displayed on a table in front of the Commissioners Court bench appeared contain a few reams of paper each. A settlement was reached last week, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“Hopkins County should receive a little over $149,000 that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. So, I’m glad that we went ahead and entered the suit. There was some question as to whether it was even of value to enter into this lawsuit and some others chose not to, but we did. This money will have to be used particularly for the remedy of the opiate abuse that we’ve experienced and the problems that it caused. So, we will have to use this money correctly; that is there’s a specific way to use it. Perhaps the sheriff’s office will be able to assist us with it to make sure we properly to come against opiate abuse in our community,” Newsom explained.
To view a copy of the opioid lawsuit settlement posted on the Attorney General’s page, click here.
Saltillo Students Observe FCCLA Week as Part of Career and Technical Education Programs
Johnna West, a Saltillo educator with a 35-year teaching tenure, enjoys helping high school students who are planning their careers. She has seen many positive changes in how public school prepares students for employment and careers in adult life. Through Saltillo ISD’s involvement with the Texas Association of Family Career and Community Leaders Association, study courses and planned events help students get hands-on experience within the communities where they live. During FCCLA Week, Mrs. West arranged for the co-Presidents of the school chapter, Garrett Tarver and Christina Wade, to be interviewed by KSST about the benefits of FCCLA activities.
Garrett Tarver is a Senior at Saltillo High School who has plans to attend University of Oklahoma to study Meteorology towards a career in Broadcast Meteorology. He said “FCCLA has helped me with my people skills and leadership skills. It’s given me opportunity to have this radio interview today, and to prepare to meet employers and community leaders which I feel will be useful in college and in the workplace”. Garrett has joined class members during FCCLA Week by preparing and delivering Valentine gifts to staffers of a Mt. Vernon nursing home and the Sulphur Springs Hospital and clinics.
Christina Wade is also a Senior at Saltillo High School. She said, “I plan to enter Texas A&M University Commerce this Fall to major in Kinesiology to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. Then I plan to work toward earning a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy. I enjoy the contact with people of the community as part of FCCLA studies in high school, like with the CASA Cookie Walk. In spite of it’s cancellation for 2021, her class still got to do fundraising and handed over a check to CASA for over $1,000 in support of their work with abused and neglected children in Northeast Texas”.
Both Garrett and Christina have teamed up with class members during FCCLA Week by preparing and delivering Valentine gifts to staffers of a Mt. Vernon nursing home and the Sulphur Springs Hospital and clinics.
Mrs. West concluded by saying that even though the Pandemic has made learning different than in other years, the school has striven to provide meaningful activities for the FCCLA students. She hopes to take them to compete at State FCCLA in person, but if not, they can still have the competition experience on-line with students in other schools across the State.
Frisco Man Allegedly Caught With PCP, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana, Gun, Cash
A 57-year-old Frisco was allegedly caught with PCP, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, a gun and cash at the I-30 rest stop early Tuesday morning, according arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Aaron Chaney responded shortly after 3 a.m. Feb. 9 in the area of the 110 mile marker on Interstate 30. Motorists had reported a white car parked in the westbound lane of travel. He did not spot the car in the area. While still in the area, dispatchers received additional calls reporting the car was stopped in the lane for the I-30 rest area exit. Another report said someone had assisted the driver in getting the car off the road and into the rest area parking. The driver was reported to be slumped over possibly lost and intoxicated.
Upon arrival at the rest stop, Chaney reported seeing a white Audi A4 with a male slumped over toward the driver’s window. The man appeared to be asleep with the vehicle still in the drive position. The deputy attempted to awaken the man through the open window.
Cumby Police Officer Nick Geer arrived to assist Chaney. When the man woke, officers attempted to ask him questions, but reported the man seemed lethargic, incoherent and had trouble answering.
While talking to the man, Chaney reported seeing what appeared to him to be two marijuana cigarettes in the ashtray near the console. Chaney had the man, identified in reports as Keith Ali of Frisco, get out of the car and stay with Geer while he conducted a probable cause search of it. Chaney reported finding a burnt glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke crack cocaine with residue on it. Ali was placed into handcuffs at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday for possession of a the controlled substance.
Chaney continued searching the car. He alleged also finding during the search:
- a metal cardholder with a white rock-like substance suspected to be crack cocaine;
- a bottle with a baggy containing a white powder-like substance believed to be cocaine and two bags containing a tar-like substance believed to be heroin;
- a medicine bottle with a brown powder-like substance believed to be heroin;
- a black travel case with six rubber-band bound bundles of cash;
- a large suitcase with bags of a green, leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, a dark glass bottle with a medicine dropper and a clear liquid substance suspected to be PCP in the trunk; and
- a Rossi Magnum revolver.
All of the items were seized, the car was impounded and Ali was transported to Hopkins County jail. The contraband was weighed and included:
- 8.52 grams of suspected cocaine,
- 1.02 grams of suspected crack cocaine,
- 3.42 grams of suspected black tar heroin,
- 0.39 grams of suspected brown powder heroin,
- 67.8 grams (including container) of suspected PCP, and
- 3.8 ounces of suspected marijuana.
The cash was found to have been bundled in increments of $1,000 and totaled $6,100, Chaney noted in arrest reports.
Ali was booked into Hopkins County jail at 10:20 a.m. Feb. 9 on six charges:
- possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- two charges of possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- possession of 1 gram or more but less than 1 gam of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone,
- possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, and
- possession of 2 ounces or more but less than 4 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone.
Ali remained in Hopkins County jail on Wednesday morning, Feb. 10, 2021.
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 Soccer Team Evens District Mark With Solid Shutout Of Marshall At Home Tuesday
The Wildcats Soccer Team won their second straight district game as they defeated Marshall, 3-0 at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night, February 9.
After dropping a couple of district games, perhaps to the top two teams in the district, the Wildcats have rebounded with wins over Texas High and the Mavericks.
Veteran players found the net for the Wildcats. David Moreno scored the first two first half goals by heading the ball into the net from right out in front. Uriel Santacruz assisted on the first goal and Omar Hernandez’s corner kick set up with second. Hernandez scored the third goal in the second half on a free kick from about 24 yards out. Goalkeepers Tai Nguyen and Alex Rodriquez shared the shutout each playing a half.
Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton called it a solid win adding it was a great one in freezing weather.
The Wildcats are 2-2 in district play and 11-6-1 for the season. The Wildcats play at Pine Tree in a big district game on Friday night.
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.
Veteran Wildcats Baseball Coach Is Pleased With His Wildcats’ Performance In First Scrimmage
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack is beginning his 16th season in Sulphur Springs. At his team’s first scrimmage of the year Monday evening, January 8, at Sherman. Coach Hammack found a lot to like.
He said he was not aware of the score but he noted that the Wildcats did score more runs than the Bearcats. Coach Hammack is a stickler for bat discipline and he said the Wildcats performed very well in that department Monday. He pronounced the Wildcats to be in mid-season form. He said the Wildcats swung at very few bad pitches and had several hits with two strikes on them. Coach Hammack said overall he has some talented arms on the mound who would get better with time and experience.
The Wildcats Baseball Coach said he looks forward to the next outing if the weather cooperates. The Wildcats are scheduled to scrimmage Terrell Friday at 6 p.m. at Wildcat Park.
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.
Hicks: Digital Detox/ Mindful Living
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Digital Detox/ Mindful Living
Today’s world is complicated, unpredictable, and stressful. Use of technology changes the way we approach our work and daily activities. The average person checks their phone several times a day. Time spent on digital devices has replaced our time spent on exercise, bonding, and creative activities such as playing an instrument, brain games, enjoying family meals, and playing outdoors.
Highly stimulating screen-based activities, the bright lights from digital devices, and the constant urge to check our phones for texts, phone calls or emails can become repetitive and compulsive, which may induce stress and disrupt sleep. However, being mindful of technology use allows meaningful face to face interactions and conversations. Being mindful of technology encourages healthy connections with oneself and others rather than losing yourself in mobile devices. It also helps to refocus your concentration to be present by avoiding compulsive use of technology.
A digital detox will help you unplug and disconnect from technology and to reconnect with friends and family. Have a morning routine without your phone or other digital devices. Allow for screen-free time. Take breaks from social media to go outdoors to exercise or connect with the real world. Turn off social media notifications such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Encourage screen-free family meals to reconnect with family members and focus on the meal and conversation. Avoid screens in your bedroom and do not use any screen 1 hour before bedtime.
Stretch your body every 30 minutes while using your computer and focus on natural objects that are restful to the eyes. Avoid talking or texting while driving. Distracted driving is dangerous so always stay focused on the road.
Stress can affect our bodies and minds in powerful ways; from raising our heart rate and blood pressure, to causing muscle tightness and pain. Stress can also allow negative emotions and self-talk to spiral out of control, potentially prompting unhealthy ways of coping. Turn off the television or computer when you feel stress increasing. Worrying constantly about the future or the events that we cannot control may often induce stress. Becoming mindful and being able to identify how stress is affecting our thoughts and body is the first step in learning how to cope with stress healthfully.
Texas Speaks
Texas Speaks is a state-wide online survey conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service with the purpose of listening to Texas citizens as they identify the strengths and needs of our communities. Data from the survey will be aggregated at local levels and provided to local stakeholders. Additionally, statewide data will be aggregated and made available to state agencies and decision makers.
Here are some quick facts about the survey:
- Online
- Open to the public
- Anonymous
- Takes 10 minutes
- Includes an opportunity to collect open-ended feedback
Please take the survey: http://tx.ag/texasspeaks
Closing Thought
It is no profit to have learned well if you neglect to do well – Publilius Syrus
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B W. Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Weather-Related Scheduling Updates For Feb. 11, 2021
Several local school districts, county buildings and one learning center have notified KSST they are planning for delayed starts to the school day on Thursday, Feb. 11, due to inclement weather, for the safety of students and staff. Two school districts have made the decision to be closed all day Thursday. Other districts are monitoring the situation and will make announcements if any determinations are needed regarding late starts or cancelations.
Below are the latest updates KSST has received so far.
CLOSINGS
- North Hopkins ISD will be closed Thursday, Feb. 11, Superintendent Darin Jolly reported.
- Cumby ISD will be closed all day Thursday, February 11, according to Superintendent Shelly Slaughter. Information will be posted on Cumby ISD social media accounts and a call out will be made.
- Meal a Day will be closed today for the safety of program cooks and delivery drivers. No deliveries will be made today. Program Director Karon Weatherman encourages those who live near elderly neighbors to check on them.
- Paris Junior College in Paris, Greenville and Sulphur Springs will be closed Thursday due to winter weather, but is scheduled to reopen on Friday, Feb. 12.
DELAYED STARTS
- Miller Grove ISD will have a delayed started to the school day on Thursday. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 11, with buses running 2 hours later Thursday morning, Superintendent Steve Johnson reported at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.
- Sulphur Springs ISD will have a 2 hour delayed start to the school day on Feb. 11. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Buses in SSISD will run two hours later than normal.
- Saltillo ISD will have a late start Feb. 11. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday. Buses will run at 9 a.m. (2 hours later than normal).
- Little Texans Learning Center will have a delayed start on Thursday. The center will not open until 9 a.m. on Feb. 11.
- Sulphur Bluff ISD is delaying Thursday’s start time to 10 a.m. due to the dropping temperatures and possibility of ice. Buses will run on a two-hour delay Feb. 11.
- All Hopkins County buildings will open at 10 a.m. Feb. 11, in line with public schools, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported just after 8 p.m. Wednesday. Misdemeanor Court that was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday is now slated to begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 11.
- Yantis ISD classes will start at 10 a.m. Thursday due to inclement weather. Buses will run 2 hours later on Feb. 11.
- Texas A&M University-Commerce will be closed until 1 p.m. Thursday, due to inclement weather. A decision for the remaining work day will be communicated by the university before 1 p.m. Feb. 11. The closure includes all business operations except essential services already approved.
If your school or organization is cancelling, delaying or has a scheduling change due to the weather, contact KSST so we can help get the word out.
Stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230 AM for the latest weather reports and updates for school start delays or closings.
Lady Cats Soccer Scores Big In Win At Marshall, 9-0
It was a night full of fireworks for the Lady Cats as Coach Javier Aguayo’s team beat the Marshall Lady Mavs, 9-0 Tuesday night in Marshall. Five different Lady Cats scored, with two of those Lady Cats scoring more than one goal on the night.
Rebekah Stanley and Haylee Shultz lead the way, with four and two goals, respectively. Stanley finished with three assists on goals as well.
Lady Cats Soccer Head Coach Javier Aguayo said Tuesday’s win against a district foe in the Lady Mavs is very important, and that the team is happy and excited about Tuesday’s huge 9-0 win.
Coach Aguayo said he was “Happy the girls had fun.”
The Lady Cats dominated from the get go. Within 30 seconds of kick-off, Haylee Shultz scored the first goal of the game to break the 0-0 tie. This would not be the last goal for Shultz or the Lady Cats. What seemed like a game teetering on blowout after the visiting Lady Cats led 4-0 at the half, only got worse for the Marshall Lady Mavs.
The carnage did not stop there, as the Lady Cats added on five more goals in the second half; Rebekah Stanley recorded her second goal just over five minutes into the second half, adding a third under fifteen minutes later, and an incredible fourth goal on the game, which made the score an almost unbelievable 8-0. Just over a minute later, Emma Romero recorded her first goal of the game, making the final tally 9-0.
Anna Williams also had a solid night, finishing with a goal herself and an assist on a goal. Janine Yamaguchi also scored a goal, which made the score 4-0 before the half.
Many varsity games between teams will also feature at least a JV match-up, but that was not the case tonight, as the JV game was cancelled. The varsity game was moved up from its usual primetime time slot of 7:15 to JV’s regular time at 5:30 P.M. Coach Aguayo said it can throw off a team’s rhythm, “But other than that, they came out and played; and played well.”
That they did, as five Lady Cats scored en route to a dominating win over district foe Marshall (0-3 district).
Next up, Lady Cats Soccer 9-5-3 overall (3-1 district), returns home to host Pine Tree 6-3-2 overall (1-2 district) as district play continues Friday at 7:15 P.M.
Be sure to tune in to our sister station KRVA 107.1 Young Country FM Friday evening for a radio broadcast of the game featuring myself doing play-by-play.
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.
