Student Registering for Classes at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center
Jocelyn Perez of Sulphur Springs, left, completes her paperwork with Educational Advisor Tonya Yeager of the Educational Opportunity Center so she can begin classes at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. For information about enrolling for the winter term or spring 2021 semester, call 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Lady Cats Basketball Friday Home and Season Opener With Sherman is Canceled
The Lady Cats Basketball Team’s season and home opener planned for Friday (November 6) at 5 p.m. has been canceled according to Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell. Coach Tisdell told Athletic Director Greg Owens that the entire Sherman Lady Bearcats Basketball Team has been quarantined due to coronavirus. The Lady Cats are now scheduled to have their season and home opener on Tuesday as they host Mount Vernon. The 5 p.m. game will be a varsity only contest.
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.
Corsicana Head Coach Hal Wasson Challenged with Injuries, Coronavirus Issues and Low Participation Numbers
In a football season during the age of coronavirus, Corsicana Tigers Head Football Coach Hal Wasson is battling lots of injuries, coronavirus issues and lower than usual participation numbers for football. Coach Wasson, in his second season in Corsicana, says it’s been an unusual season to say the least. He says everything seems backwards. He says he is blessed with good kids in his program. Coach Wasson says he has had to rob freshmen and JV players to keep fielding his varsity team. He says his team has suffered a lot of soft tissue injuries after coming back from the period from March to early June when his athletes had to stay at home due to coronavirus concerns. He says some players reported back out of condition. He adds their routines have been disrupted. Coach Wasson says you just have to do the best you can. He says if things, such as injuries, are beyond your control, you just have to move on. He says he tries to stay positive. Coach Wasson says this football season has not gone they way he wanted it to. The Tigers are 2-4 this season. They started zone play last week with a 48-29 loss to Greenville. He says the young Tigers had a hard time with the speed of Greenville. Injured players include the Tigers’ best player, dynamic quarterback Solomon James, who was the district’s co-Newcomer of the Year last season. Coach Wasson says James got nicked up three or four games ago. He says he is also on about his fifth running back. He says the good news is that none of the injuries are career-ending. Without James, the Tigers have become one-dimensional, and strongly feature the running attack. Coach Wasson says against Greenville, the Tigers averaged about 7 yards per play and nearly 400 yards rushing. And that was with the Lions knowing that the run was coming. Coach Wasson says his offensive line is doing a nice job. A standout on defense for Corsicana has been junior inside linebacker Jesus Mendoza, who played some last season. Coach Wasson says he has some young guys in the secondary. Looking at tape, Coach Wasson finds similarities between the Tigers and the Sulphur Springs Wildcats. He says both teams have impressive stretches that can suddenly go into inconsistency. He says the most consistent team will come out on top Friday at Prim Stadium. Wasson is a native of Kerens, located just a few miles outside Corsicana. Wasson has coached all over Texas. He spent 11 years at Southlake Carroll, where his team won a state championship in 2011.
Sulphur Springs Middle School Football Coach Eddie Flores Reports 1-0 Record Tuesday Night
Sulphur Springs Middle School Football Coach Eddie Flores reported the results of a win Tuesday night.
8th Grade A Team
Flores reports the 8th grade A team beat the Marshall Mavericks, 38-6. The Wildcat A team is now 5-0 on the season.
Offense
QB- Kaden Mitchell played well, threw for a 40 yard Touchdown Pass, and had 2 rushing Touchdowns
RB- Dedric Rose-Luke ran the ball hard rushing for 70 yards and 1 rushing Touchdown
RB- Billy Boughton also ran the ball hard all night rushing for 40 yards and 2 rushing Touchdowns
WR- Jackson Haire also had a great game, rushing for 50 yards, and a 40 yard Touchdown reception
Offensive Line- Ty Holt, Payton Turner, Barret Thesing, Aiden Smith, Andres Cerda, Luke Womack, executed the blocking scheme well all night.
“Great job by all 11 Wildcats players offensively,” Flores said.
Defense
MLB- Lane Kerns played well defensively with 1 QB sack and 7 Tackles for the night
Defensive Line- Nathan Andrews, Giovanni Solis and Dallan Horton played well all-night putting pressure on Marshall offense
Flores reports “All 11 Wildcat players played well; swarming to the football.”
8th Grade B Team
The 8th grade B team did not play against Marshall, for the game was canceled. However, Coach Flores reports the 8th grade B team will face a 7th grade Sulphur Springs All-Star Football team at Prim Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 P.M.
Upcoming Season Finale
Both 8th grade Football teams A and B will travel to Mount Pleasant next Tuesday, Nov. 10, to face the Mount Pleasant Tigers. Start time is 5 P.M. for the B team and 6:15 P.M. for the A team.
This will be the final game of the season for the Sulphur Springs Middle School football program.
City Council Approved Reinvestment Zone, 380 Agreement For D6, Inc.
Sulphur Springs City Council tackled numerous items during the November meeting, including a reinvestment zone and economic development agreement for D6, Inc., close out the CARES Act Small Business Assistance Program and purchase of a track loader. The agenda also included five ordinances dealing with rezoning and establishment of reinvestment zones.
Reinvestment Zone, EDC Agreement
The City Council approved on first reading an ordinance establishing an industrial reinvestment zone and a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into an economic development agreement with D6, Inc. The company has purchased the old Coca-Cola building, according to City Manager Marc Maxwell.
D6, Inc., a Portland company that makes pie tins and plastic lids, is planning a $6 million investment which includes a 5,000 square foot expansion. The business has asked for a 380 agreement from the city and plans to ask for a tax abatement from Hopkins County Hospital District as well. Instead of a tax abatement, the 10-year economic development agreement would require the business to pay their taxes, then receive a rebate when D6 provides documents showing the terms of the agreement are met. The first year, the rebate would be the full amount, then would reduce by 10 percent each year. Essentially, the business would pay 45 percent of total taxes over the 10 years of the agreement.
COVID-19 Funding
The Sulphur Springs economy is doing well despite COVID-19. Sales tax is up significantly, Maxwell reported.
The City of Sulphur Springs received approval to use a portion of the $890,945 in CARES Act funding the city was eligible to apply for to provide Small Business Assistance Program grants to local businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns and guidelines. Those were awarded Oct. 27 to 28 eligible businesses.
Because all of the CARES funding originally designated to help small businesses was not used, the Council agreed for the left over funding to go toward the purchase of personal protective equipment for Sulphur Springs Fire Department.
“Because of COVID if they go on a call where somebody’s got COVID, they’ve got to go back and change real quick before the next call. The bunker gear that’s potentially been infected has to be disinfected so they need a second pair,” Maxwell explained.
Casco Industries, Inc.’s’ bid of $80,270 was accepted for the bunker gear purchase.
Equipment Purchase
The city is getting a new large track loader with clam shell bucket. The $248,500 piece of equipment is being purchased from the local Holt dealer through Buyboard.
The track loader will be used at the “hilltop” location, where street building supplies are stockpiled. The new loader will replace a 1980 CAT D6 dozer and a 1999 John Deere 555 track loader.
Final Ordinances
Sulphur Springs City Council on Nov. 3 approved on second and final reading, following public hearings, rezoning and reinvestment zone ordinances.
Ordinance No. 2773 creates a commercial-industrial reinvestment zone at the old Thermo mine. This will allow the city to issue tax abatements to attract industry to establish facilities on the old city-owned mine property, according to Maxwell.
Ordinance No. 2774 establishes Lot 6 at Pioneer Business Park, where My Perfect Pet’s new gourmet dog food plat is located, as an industrial reinvestment zone. This designation will allow Hopkins County Hospital District to consider a tax abatement for My Perfect Pet. HCHD cannot create a reinvestment zone, but the City of Sulphur Springs can. The hospital district approved the request, contingent on creation of the industrial reinvestment zone, at the Oct. 27 HCHD Board of Directors meeting.
Ordinance No. 2775 finalizes the zoning of the old coal property to heavy industrial.
“We’ve got some big names out there for industrial development. We’ve got some big name companies looking, whether they actually land remains to be seen. They might,” Maxwell said.
The council also was required to consider Ordinance No. 2776 to rezone property at the corner of Spence and Fisher Street from heavy commercial to single family attached. Kenny Dority of Paris asked the city to consider rezoning a 10.84-acre tract of property to allow for the development of either duplexes or town home type housing. Dority at a previous city meeting said he he was looking to invest a total of $8 million in the 36 lots. The zoning change would apply only to the Spence-Fisher Street corner property, not other nearby property.
Wood County Sheriff’s Report Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2020
Wood County Sheriff’s Office provided the following activity report for Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2020:
- Abandoned Vehicle: 3
- Alarm: 10
- Animal Complaint: 8
- Arrest/Warrant Service: 9
- Assault: 1
- Burglary: 2
- Criminal Mischief: 1
- Criminal Trespass: 5
- Disturbances/Disputes: 9
- Fire Structure: 1
- Harassment: 1
- Livestock at Large: 15
- Motorist Assist: 1
- Noise Complaint: 6
- Public Assist: 1
- Reckless Driver: 5
- Shots Fired: 3
- Suspicious Activity: 14
- Theft: 6
- Traffic Hazard: 6
- Traffic Stop Closed by Arrest: 1
- Unauthorized Use of Vehicle: 1
- Welfare Check: 5
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – November 2020
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, Sulphur Springs City Council received from City Manager Marc Maxwell the monthly manager’s report:
COVID-19 RESPONSE
The number of active cases in Hopkins County nearly doubled in October with a total of 141 active cases as of November 2. The state has tested 1905 people at the Hopkins County testing site since the October council meeting. We have had 559 recoveries and 36 fatalities in Hopkins County.
As a part of the City’s response to Covid-19 the City suspended the practice of cutting off water service for non-payment. Some of the balances are growing quite high. The total arrearage is $108,358 with 469 accounts (6.7% of all accounts) in arrears. 168 accounts are more than 90 days in arrears. I have not planned on reinstituting cut offs until after a vaccine is available. At that point we will have to decide how to bring the delinquent accounts up to a current status. I will likely propose requiring residents to pay their current bill along with 1/6th or 1/12th of their arrearage to avoid being cut off. In this way their accounts would be brought current in either 6 months or 12 months.
GRAYS BUILDING
The foundation for the building and the patio have both been poured. Sulta Manufacturing is supplying the steel for the project, and we expect the steel
to be delivered the week of November 16. Hawk Construction will begin erecting the steel as soon as it is delivered. Staff installed the grease trap and the sewer service to the building in October.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING
Construction drawings are still being prepared by REES Associates. We have hired Tandem Consulting to oversee the construction just like the Grays Building.
BELLVIEW STREET
Atmos is finally finished replacing the gas line. We have finished all or our work on Bellview. Texana Land and Asphalt plans to pave Bellview and McCann the week of the 16th, weather permitting.
MCCANN STREET
The sewer main and water main have both been replaced. We are currently replacing some sections of curb and gutter and some driveway approaches. After that, the street will be paved with asphalt. Texana Land and Asphalt plans to pave Bellview and McCann the week of the 16th, weather permitting.
WOODLAWN STREET
This is the next project in the Capital Improvement Plan. This 1,000’ long street is more than 80 years old, and the utilities are completely depleted. The street will receive a new water main and a new sewer main. We will replace portions of curb and gutter and cement-stabilize the road base. Texana Land and Asphalt will then pave the street with asphalt. We have already begun replacing the sewer main.
CLAIMS
We did not have any workers compensation claims or liability claims in
October.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Finance Director Lesa Smith will not present a report of revenues and expenditures since the year has only just begun.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Responded to 179 Fire/Rescue calls including 2 structure fires and 3 vehicle fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.
- Performed 10 fire inspections.
- Sent 16 notices of code violations.
- Made 16 major street repairs following utility repairs.
- Cleaned storm drains after 4 rain events.
- Conducted 28 building inspections, 21 electrical inspections, 16 plumbing inspections, 3 mechanical inspections and issued 34 building permits.
- Checked out 2,892 items from the Library.
- Installed a Zoom booth at the Library.
- Sold 7,820 gallons of Jet A fuel and 2,934 gallons of AvGas at the Airport.
- Replaced the lamps on the girls’ softball fields at Coleman Park.
- Washed tertiary filters and performed preventative maintenance on the clarifiers at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Treated wastewater effluent to monthly average total suspended solids count of .38 mg/L.
- Repaired 9 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 43 water meters.
- Unstopped 18 sewer mains.Repaired 5 sewer services.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
- Treated 148 million gallons of potable water.
- Made 2 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 45 accidents, wrote 472 citations, recorded 34 offenses and made 29 arrests in the Patrol Division.
- Responded to 225 calls for animal control.
- Achieved an 88% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
- Hosted a 62-team collegiate baseball/softball tournament.
- Trimmed trees and undergrowth at Buford Park.
- Planted winter flowers downtown.
- Pressure washed various sidewalks downtown.
Nov. 4 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 3 New Cases
Texas Department of State Health Services in Nov. 4 reports showed one additional COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County, while the Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Nov. 4 COVID-19 update reported 3 additional Hopkins County residents had received positive COVID-19 tests results Wednesday.
HC/SSEM Nov. 4 COVID-19 Update
There 3 new cases make 24 new COVID-19 positives so far this month. That’s 3 more than during the first 4 days of October. Last month was by far the worst COVID-19 month for Hopkins County residents since the pandemic began: there were 323 new cases, and at one point as many as 236 active cases (Oct. 28) and 23 deaths.
While the Nov. 4 COVID-19 update did not contain any reports of newly recovered residents, there have been 19 recoveries so far this month, which is 5 more than the first 4 days of October too.
Nov. 4 marked the second day the active case county has risen, increasing from 141 on Monday to 146 on Tuesday and 149 Wednesday. Cumulatively, that makes 708 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, including 559 who have recovered from the virus.
There was one less patient in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs on Wednesday than the 14 reported on Tuesday, according to the Nov. 4 COVID-19 update. Thirteen cases is the fewest reported by HC/SSEM in the last 6 days.
On Tuesday, 88 tests were performed at the Jefferson Street testing site. That’s 303 tests conducted at the site so far this month. Overall, 2,606 oral swab COVID-19 tests have been conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street since the facility opened on Sept. 24.
The Jefferson Street COVID testing site is scheduled to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays during November.
To book a test, go online to GoGetTested.com, select “Red Cross/old Fidelity Express — Texas Emergency Management building at 128-A Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs” or other desired location, then, Click Book Now, and follow the prompts.
DSHS Fatality Report
The DSHS COVID-19 case count dashboard on Nov. 4 showed 42 fatalities for Hopkins County. That’s one more Hopkins County resident whose death certificate shows COVID-19 as cause of death. The death, according to the DSHS Fatalities over Time By County report, occurred on Oct. 28, increasing the confirmed COVID-19 deaths of Hopkins County residents in October to 23.
That’s 42 of the 708 Hopkins County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 who have died since July (when the state began using death certificates to assign COVID-19 deaths to counties).
That puts Hopkins County ahead of Titus County for fatalities. Titus County, which has about 4,300 less residents than Hopkins, has had more than twice as many residents (1,625) who have tested positive, but only 37 fatalities, according to DSHS,
Wood County also was reported to have 1 more COVID-19 death, matching Hopkins County with a total of 42 fatalities. However, only 672 of Wood County’s 45,539 residents had tested positive for COVID since March.
In nearby Hunt County, 2,125 of the 98,594 residents have tested positive; and 48 of the COVID-19 patients have died.
HHS Reports
Texas Health and Human Services for the second day in a row reported COVID-19 deaths at Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab: 1 death was reported on Oct. 20 and 2 deaths on Oct. 21.
Eighteen additional residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19 but the facility was also reported to have that many new positive cases, so the active resident case count continued to be 20 at Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab. That increases the cumulative resident case count to 45. The facility also still had 14 active and 33 cumulative employee cases as of Oct. 21, the most recent data available from HHS on nursing facilities.
Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab had four additional residents test positive for COVID-19, increasing the active case count to 5, with 8 resident recoveries and 2 deaths on Oct. 21, according to the Nov. 4 HHS nursing facility report.
Rock Creek was reported to still have 1 active resident COVID-19 case at the facility on Oct. 21, the Nov. 4 HHS nursing facility report noted.
One additional Carriage House Manor resident tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 21, giving the facility 4 active resident cases and 2 active employee cases.
Sulphur Springs Middle School Football Coach Flores Reports of a 7th Grade All-Star Game
Sulphur Springs Middle School Football Coach Eddie Flores reported the Sulphur Springs 7th grade Middle School All-Stars versus the 8th grade B-team game will begin on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 P.M. at Prim Stadium.
Coach Flores says the 7th graders will be the visitors, wearing white jerseys, and the 8th grade will wear blue jerseys and be home.
This will be the 7th grade Football program’s final game of the season, but the program has not experienced this sort of thing before, so Coach Flores says the 7th graders are really excited of the opportunity to play against the 8th graders — under the lights at Gerald Prim Stadium, no less.
The first-time clash between the 8th grade B-team and 7th grade All-Stars takes place at Gerald Prim Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7 P.M.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Golf Teams Have Some Good Moments at District Preview Tuesday
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats Golf Teams took part in a district preview Tuesday (November 3) at the Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater. Lady Cats Golf Coach Whitney Spigener said she took both teams to the event because Wildcats Golf Coach Jeremy DeLorge was unable to attend. Coach Spigener said the preview was arranged by the District 15-5A Golf Chair, Longview. Coach Spigener said most of the district’s teams were able to attend. She said the preview allowed coaches and players to assess the competition and she added it was also a chance for players to get acquainted with the course where the district tournament will be played this spring.
The Wildcats Golf Team shot a 331 Tuesday and finished second just three strokes behind Hallsville’s 328. Senior Grant Mohesky shot a 76, good enough for second place. Senior Kip Childress had a 78. Senior Rylan Brewer carded an 87. Junior Luke Dietze shot 90, his best tournament score ever. Sophomore Caleb Kesting shot 95. Missing from the boys’ field was Texas High, expected to finish very high at the district tournament. Only the top two district teams will qualify for the regional tournament.
Coach Spigener said the Lady Cats did not shoot near their best as a team on the hard Tempest course. She expects tough district tournament competition from Texas High, Longview and Mount Pleasant. Lady Cats senior Mariam Tran tied for first as a medalist with a 74. Tran finished second after a playoff. Mykaylie Meador shot a 109. Coach Spigener said Meador was grouped with #1 seeded players and faced a lot of competition. Mattye Schmidt had a 119. Coach Spigener said Lady Cat Autumn Allen showed quite a bit of improvement in shooting a 121.
Next the Wildcats and Lady Cats are scheduled to play on December 7 at a regional preview at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club. The tournament was originally planned for October 26 but was postponed due to bad weather.
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.
