A Second Cup of Coffee with John Mark Dempsey Feb 27th guest Hope Cain
On the February 27th segment of A Second Cup of Coffee with John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Sulphur Springs Public Library Director Hope Cain. Their conversation covered such topics as the upcoming eclipse, tax returns, Valentine’s Day, and other Sulphur Springs Public Library activities. Check it out!
20th Annual 90+ Sulphur Springs Bridges Banquet to be Held April 20th
The 20th Annual 90 Plus Sulphur Springs Bridges Banquet is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 20, 2024. This year’s theme is “Bridging the Gap Between the Ages.” Activities begin at 12:00pm at the ROC in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Guests will be served a sit-down dinner, enjoy entertainment, and engage in fellowship. To register a Senior please call Dawna Pryor at 903-885-1661 by April 6th.
Paris Junior College Presidential Search Committee Recommends Three Finalists
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents met Thursday, March 7 and received the formal recommendations from the PJC Presidential Search Committee of three finalists for the next President of the College.
“We accepted the report of the Paris Junior College Presidential Search Committee as authorized by a previous vote of the Regents,” said PJC Board of Regents President Curtis Fendley. “We are extremely pleased with the caliber of applicants. It is a compliment to the reputation of the College.”
The three presidential finalists are Dr. Stephen Michael Benson, Dr. Joel Michaelis, and Dr. Kevin Rose. Public forums for faculty, staff, students, and the public will be held at 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. in the PJC Math and Science Building, Room 101 for Dr. Rose on Wednesday, March 20, Dr. Michaelis on Thursday, March 21, and Dr. Benson on Friday, March 22.
Stephen Michael Benson, Ph.D.
Dr. Benson has a twenty-seven year career serving as an administrator at a variety of higher education institutions. He came to McLennan Community College in April 2017 after serving three years as the Vice President for Business Services at Florida Gateway College in Lake City, Florida.
Prior to the position in Florida, Dr. Benson served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at New River Community and Technical College in Beckley, West Virginia and as Director of Administrative Services at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1997, a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Mountain State University in 2010, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Keiser University in 2016.
Dr. Benson has been actively engaged in professional organizations, including Community College Business Officers groups in West Virginia as the Vice President, in Florida, and now as the Secretary for the Texas Association of Community College Business Officers. Active in his current community, Dr. Benson has served on boards for the United Way, Creative Waco, Youth Chorus of Central Texas, McGregor Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, and church committees.
In his current role at McLennan Community College, Dr. Benson is responsible for the preparation and control of the annual budget, which exceeds $61 million and ensures that proper financial systems are established and maintained. Dr. Benson has direct responsibility for Financial Services, Purchasing/Auxiliary Services, Human Resources, Technology, Campus Safety/Police, Emergency & Risk Management, Physical Plant, Admissions and Recruitment, Records and Registration, Enrollment Systems, Financial Aid, and Marketing and Communications, with over 200 staff in his division.
Directly responsible for strategic enrollment management, Dr. Benson has led the College in many innovative new initiatives that have stabilized enrollment and generated enrollment growth. Under Dr. Benson’s financial leadership, the College has added over $14 million to its unrestricted fund balance, all while enhancing the salaries and benefits of its employees by $6 million. A champion of collaboration, Dr. Benson routinely uses committees and task forces representing all employees to best implement change.
In his previous role at Florida Gateway College, Dr. Benson provided leadership for planning multiple construction projects, developing a facilities masterplan, establishing a public safety office, and opening a campus operated food service. Similarly, in his Vice President role at New River Community and Technical College, Dr. Benson was instrumental in providing leadership for the separation of the financial operations from Bluefield State College, which established the business office, financial aid office, and purchasing department. Dr. Benson provided the leadership for New River to drastically expand its facilities footprint on five campuses.
In addition to his professional roles in higher education, Dr. Benson has used his musical training to serve as the music director for First United Methodist Church of Buckhannon and as the director of the Buckhannon Choral Society. He currently serves as the Music Director of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Waco. Music plays a major role in the life of the Benson family.
Dr. Benson is married to Christy and they have one daughter Kiersten. Christy is the Financial Manager for MPL Corporation, a computer software company that is based in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Kiersten will graduate from Midway High School in Waco, Texas this year and will attend the University of Texas in Austin this fall to study chemistry.
Joel Michaelis, Ed.D.
Dr. Michaelis is the Vice President of Instruction at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska. Previously, he served in the Chief Academic Officer role at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Middlesboro, Kentucky and also at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. Dr. Michaelis earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Baylor University, a Master of Education in Higher Education administration from The University of Texas, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Texas A&M University, College Station.
Dr. Michaelis has worked in education for over 30 years, starting as a sixth grade mathematics instructor, and has served in various administrative roles in student services, workforce development and academics in community colleges in Texas, Kentucky, and Nebraska. He is also a graduate of Paris High School and attended Paris Junior College for a year prior to transferring to Texas A&M.
Kevin P Rose, Ed.D.
Dr. Kevin Rose is the Senior Vice President for Student Success at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) where he provides leadership for a variety of areas including instruction, student services, information technology, and outreach services. Hepreviously held the positions of Vice President for Instruction, Associate Vice President for Workforce Development, and Dean of Business Technology and Continuing Education at NTCC. From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Rose served as Associate Dean of Workforce and Continuing Education, then Dean of Workforce Education at Paris Junior College.
Dr. Rose began his higher education career teaching computer science before moving into administration over 20 years ago. He has maintained his passion for connecting with students by serving as an adjunct faculty member at both Northeast Texas Community College and Texas A&M University-Texarkana, having taught undergraduate and graduate courses in the departments of computer science and adult education.
He has extensive experience supporting business and industry through workforce development and the design of innovative training programs. One such project is the Industrial Technology Training Center (ITTC) in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The ITTC is a partnership between Northeast Texas Community College, Mt. Pleasant Independent School District, and the Mt. Pleasant Economic Development Corporation and is focused on providing training for maintenance personnel in the manufacturing sector.
Dr. Rose has worked closely with the area’s school districts in supporting a college-going culture and was instrumental in the development of the Harts Bluff Early College High School, the first in the area. In 2020, he was named the Area 3 Career and Technology Association of Texas (CTAT) Champion for CTE for his work with area CTE departments in both program development and grant writing support. He has served on numerous Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation teams as both a committee member and chair and serves on the Board of Managers for the Titus Regional Medical Center, the Mt. Pleasant Housing Authority, and Workforce Solutions Northeast.
Dr. Rose holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Texas A&M University-Commerce, a Master of Science in computer science and a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as associate degrees from NTCC. He is a graduate of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Senior Fellows Program and the American Association of Community College’s (AACC) Future Leaders Institute. He is an alumnus of the League for Innovation in the Community College’s Executive Leadership Institute. He is married to Tracie Rose, who is the Director of Learning and Literacy for Harts Bluff ISD. Together they have one daughter, Caroline.
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.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office Wants Your Opinions
We want you to share your community needs with Us!
March 8, 2024 – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office in Hopkins County wants to invite you to our Community Forum March 21, 2024 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center located in Sulphur Springs, Texas at 1200 Houston Street. Developing educational programs based on community needs is the foundation of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s success. Providing solutions to county problems and issues allows AgriLife Extension to remain viable to constituents. What could be more important to AgriLife Extension than listening to its “customers” – the people of Texas?
Our ability to meet educational needs depends on knowing what citizens see as their issues that impact their lives. There is no way to know the answers to these questions unless they are asked. The Texas Community Futures Forum (TCFF) is designed to do just this. TCFF is just one part of the issue identification process. Other processes to collect information include, but are not limited to: State and National Trends, Commodity/Industry Groups, State and Federal Mandates and Emerging Issues.
The issues identified are to be part of your county educational plan. You should discuss these issues with county committees, task forces, regional leadership, and subject matter specialists to determine the appropriate action for educational programming. Moreover, they should be shared with other agencies and educational groups to see if a program partnership can be formed to address the issue. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is unique because it has faculty in every county in the state who are dedicated to educating Texans in many areas of need. This uniqueness provides an opportunity to bring together the people of Texas, other service agencies, and educational groups to help provide solutions to the problems and issues facing Texans. Remember the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provides innovative solutions at the intersection of agriculture, natural resources, youth and health, thereby improving the well-being of individuals, families, businesses and communities through education and service.
Please RSVP by calling 903-885-3443 by March 12, 2024. Lunch will be provided to those who RSVP.
The Next Hopkins County Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting to be Held March 21st
March 8, 2024 – Hello everyone! We have a much enjoyed previous speaker coming to the library to do a presentation entitled “Doaksville, Choctaw Nation and its Relationship with Texas.” The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the genealogy library at 611 N. Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas, at 7:00 p.m.
Our speaker, Kenny Sivard, is a 7th generation resident of McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Currently he is the president of the McCurtain County Historical Society and serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society where he sits on the organization’s Research and Publications Committees. He also serves on the executive board of the Friends of Fort Towson Historic Site and the board of directors of the Friends of Honey Springs Historic Battlefield. Kenny was formerly a history writer for the Oklahoma Edge Magazine and has written history articles for the McCurtain Gazette newspaper for over ten years. He makes his home in Idabel Oklahoma.
If you are unable to attend this meeting in person you are invited to attend via Zoom on the same date and at the same time.When: Mar 21, 2024 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)You will need to register in advance at:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcldeyprjMpHdY5YA-VroNEThTp8_fu3eYxAfter registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to seeing you in person or virtually!
FDA Alert Concerning Certain Cinnamon Products Due to Presence of Elevated Levels of Lead
March 7, 2024 – Through product testing, the FDA has determined that the ground cinnamon products listed in the table below contain elevated levels of lead and that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe.
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy these ground cinnamon products. The FDA has recommended that the firms voluntarily recall these products, with the exception of the MTCI cinnamon. The FDA has been unable to reach MTCI to share our findings and request that the company initiate a recall. The FDA will update this notice with the communications from firms that voluntarily agree to recall as we receive them.
| Distributor | Retailers | Brand Names | Lots/Codes | Lead Concentration (ppm) |
| La Fiesta Food Products | La Superior SuperMercardo | La Fiesta | 25033 | 2.73 |
| Moran Foods, LLC | Save A Lot | Marcum | Best By: 10/16/25 10DB 04/06/25 0400B1 | 3.20 2.90 |
| MTCI | SF Supermarket | MK | No Codes | 2.99 |
| Raja Foods, LLC | Patel Brothers | Swad | KX21223 | 2.12 |
| Greenbriar Int’l | Dollar Tree Family Dollar | Supreme Tradition | Best By: 09/29/25 09E8 04/17/25 04E11 12/19/25 12C2 04/12/25 04ECB12 08/24/25 08A__ 04/21/25 04E5 2025-09-22 09E20 | 3.37 2.26 2.03 2.34 3.14 3.12 3.13 |
| El Chilar | La Joya Marelense | El Chilar | F275EX1026 D300EX1024 | 3.40 2.93 |
Recommendations for consumers
- The FDA is advising consumers to stop using and dispose of these products.
- Consumers should not eat, sell, or serve ground cinnamon products listed in the table above and should discard them.
- These products have a long shelf life. Consumers should check their homes and discard these products.
- If there’s suspicion that someone has been exposed to elevated levels of lead, talk to your healthcare provider. Most people have no obvious immediate symptoms of lead exposure.
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy the ground cinnamon products listed above because samples of these products were found to contain elevated levels of lead. Based on FDA’s assessment, prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe and could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood. Long-term exposure (months to years) to elevated levels of lead in the diet could contribute to adverse health effects, particularly for the portion of the population that may already have elevated blood lead levels from other exposures to lead. No illnesses or adverse events have been reported to date in association with these products.
While the ground cinnamon products in this alert may not be a food targeted to young children, cinnamon is used in many foods young children consume. Consistent with the agency’s Closer to Zero initiative, which focuses on reducing childhood exposure to lead, the agency is recommending voluntary recall of the products listed above because prolonged exposure to the products may be unsafe. Removing the ground cinnamon products in this alert from the market will prevent them from contributing elevated amounts of lead to the diets of children.
Rains High School Theater Department will Present Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde March 19th
March 7, 2024 – The Rains High School Theater Department will present the production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde March 19, 2024. The play will be presented at the Rains High School Cafeteria. Start time is currently scheduled for 7:00pm. The community is invited. Admission is free. For more details please contact Jonathan Lance at [email protected].
Mr. and Miss Paris Junior College Announced with Historic Twist
March 7, 2024 – Paris Junior College has been naming a Mr. and Miss PJC each spring for decades, but Wednesday night, a tie resulted in a Mr. and Miss… and Miss PJC. The announcement came during halftime of the men’s basketball game on March 6, 2024.
Each year PJC faculty and staff nominate students who are graduating sophomores with a minimum of 12 semester hours in the current semester and 45 hours completed, and who have at least a 2.75 GPA. The student body selects the winners from a slate of ten finalists.
Named as Mr. PJC was Dewitt Brookins, a 2022 graduate of Sulphur Bluff High School in Sulphur Bluff, Texas. He is the Student Government Association President, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society, and served last year as the African American Student Union President. He has been named to the PJC Dean’s List, and plans to transfer to a four-year university to study neuroscience. He is the son of Shenita Brookins, who is currently a student in the PJC associate degree nursing program.
Tied with an equal number of student votes for Miss PJC were Caydence Gonzalez and Grace Pippin.
Gonzalez is a 2022 graduate of Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and the daughter of AnnaLissa and Jesus Gonzalez. She is a returning member of the Women’s Soccer Team and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She was named 2023 NJCAA Academic All American Third Team and to the PJC President’s and Dean’s Lists. She plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in nursing.
Pippin is a 2022 graduate of Hughes Spring High School in Hughes Spring, Texas and the daughter of David Pippin and Leslie Pippin. She is a returning member of the Softball Team which came in third nationally for 2023 NJCAA Academic Team for Softball. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and was named 2023 NJCAA Academic All American Second Team, National Fastpitch Coaching Association All-America Scholar-Athlete and to the PJC Dean’s List. She plans to attend a four-year university to play softball and pursue a nursing degree.
Other nominees included Jackson Braun of Spring, Preston Gamster of Dallas, Caleb Jameson of Reno, Kelsey Kovar of Thorndale, Grace Moore and Kate Rainey of Paris, and Casey Reiniche of Telephone.
Energy Company Admits Equipment May Have Caused Wildfire
March 7, 2024 – Xcel Energy on Thursday acknowledged its involvement in the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which started last week and quickly became the largest wildfire in state history, burning more than 1 million acres.
“Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company said in a statement Thursday.
Xcel said it has been cooperating with investigations into the wildfires and conducting its own review of the incident since it started. However, the company disputed claims in the same statement that the company acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure.
“However, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process,” the statement says.
Last week, Xcel Energy revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attorneys asked the company to preserve a fallen utility pole near where the fire may have started.
In the SEC filing, Xcel Energy said that “investigations into origin, cause, and damage of the wildland fires burning in or near the service territory of SPS, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire, are underway.” The company also said it is working with emergency responders to assist those impacted by the fires.
Chamber Connection – March 6th
By Butch Burney
March 7, 2024 – If you’re looking for a networking outlet, or just want to have a little social hour with friends, come to our next Cocktails and Conversation mixer, hosted by the Haus of Sabo at their new studio located at 206 Church St. The mixer will be from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
You don’t have to be a Chamber of Commerce member to attend and there is no charge.
Cocktails and Conversation is an opportunity to get to know others, network and have fun.
Come and enjoy some cocktails and conversation.
Total Solar Eclipse!
Need glasses for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse? Want a T-shirt and sticker? We know where you can get them.
We have eclipse merchandise at the Chamber of Commerce, including T-shirts, stickers and glasses. With tens of thousands of visitors targeting Hopkins County for April 8, don’t wait until the last minute.
The Chamber has an eclipse website, TotalEclipseSSTx.com, in which you can upload information about events, attractions, lodging, retail shops and restaurants. That will be the information clearinghouse for what is happening in Hopkins County on April 8 and the weekend leading up to that day.
We will be hosting a free concert on Saturday, April 6, downtown, featuring The Paper Dolls, Jason Waldon and the Alibis and Dubb and the Luv Machines. Plus, there will be vendors’ market at The Venue at 219 that weekend.
Check out the website, upload information and get prepared!
Chamber Golf Tournament
Registration is now open for the 35th Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, which is set for Friday, May 3. Teams can register online at the Chamber website: HopkinsChamber.org, or we can email you the registration form.
The tournament is limited to 43 teams – 18 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. Tee times are based on first-come basis.
The cost for a team of six is $750, which includes a morning or afternoon tee time, three carts and six lunches.
55+ Health Fair
The ROC at First Baptist Church will be the host for the 55+ Health Fair on Wednesday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Included in the fair will be therapy, blood sugar check, pre-need funeral plans, medical equipment, home health information and more.
For more information, call Karon Weatherman at 903-243-3255.
Solar Eclipse Art Exhibit
The Hopkins County Infinity 4-H Club is coordinating a Solar Eclipse Art Exhibit with age divisions separated in 7-under, 8-12, 13-18 and 19 and over.
Entries will be accepted through Aprilf 12, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office.
The maximum entry size is 16×20 inches. Dsiplay dates will be April 15-19 in the Extension Office classroom.
All Hopkins County resident are eligible to submit art. Science and art teachers are encouraged to promote this opportunity with students.
For more information, contact Lisa Sprague at 903-885-3443 or Johanna Hicks at 903-243—425.
Plant Sale
The Sulphur Springs Church of the Nazarene will have a Plant sale April 4-6 at the church located at 1300 South League St.
Ribbon Cuttings
Haus of Sabo will have a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, March 8, at their new location at 206 Church St. Please join us for this event.
Pate Cottage AirBnB will have a ribbon cutting and Open House on Monday, March 11. The ribbon cutting will be at noon at 720 Connally St. The Open House will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the same site. Everyone is invited to both events.
Bella Nova will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, March 15, at the Chamber Office. Everyone is invited.
Texas Hops and Chops steakhouse at Backstory Brewery will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Monday, March 18. Please join us for this event.
