What Issues are Important to You?
January 31, 2024 – What issues do you feel are of the highest importance for Sulphur Springs? Sulphur Springs City Council elections are coming up.
Here is a chance to anonymously voice your opinion and provide possible solutions. KSST has made a short Google Form to collect your thoughts and suggestions.
Click here to open the Google Form.
Voters Chose Dutton Over Money
Jill Dutton has narrowly defeated fellow Republican Brent Money in the special election runoff for a Texas House seat that marked an early flashpoint in the latest Texas GOP civil war.
Dutton’s win marks something of an upset after Money got the support of a who’s who of top Texas Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Dutton was leading Money by 111 votes, or a margin of less than 1 percentage point, according to unofficial returns. Money reportedly conceded at his election night party in Greenville, while Dutton released a statement celebrating a “resounding victory for conservatives across this district.”
The two Republicans were vying to finish the term of expelled former state Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City. They will face one another again in the March 5 primary for the full term in the solidly red seat.
“While I’m excited to get to work for the people of HD 2, and while I look forward to being sworn into office in the coming days, this race is far from over,” Dutton said. “I look forward to earning your vote again in March.”
Money is a Greenville lawyer who previously served on the City Council there. Dutton is the former president of the Republican Women of Van Zandt and also was a Van ISD board trustee.
Unofficial Results of the Hopkins County Texas Runoff Election Have Been Reported
January 30, 2024 – According to the Hopkins County County Clerks Office, as of 9:04pm Tuesday, January 30, 2024, cumulative unofficial results from the Hopkins County, Texas, Special Runoff Election January 30, 2024, for State Representative, District Number 2, Unexpired Term, show that Jill Dutton (R) received 65 Absentee Votes, equaling 52.42% of the votes in that category, with Early Voting results giving her 547 of those votes, or 53.31%, and Election Day Voters giving her 627 votes, or 57.95% of the votes in that category. This unofficially gave Dutton, (R), a total of 1,239 of the votes, or 55.51% of the total votes.
Her opponent, Brent Money (R) received 47.58% of the Absentee Votes, at 59, and 479 Early Votes, equaling 46.69% of the votes in that category, according to Unofficial Results. Money, (R) appeared to have gotten 455 Election Day Votes, or 42.05% of that day’s votes, giving him a vote total of 993 Votes, equaling a Total of 44.49% of the total votes.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Project Talk: Conversations that Matter, a Discussion About End-of-Life Care to be Held February 17th
January 30, 2024 – Conversation Project event, talking about our wishes for our end-of-life care, with the Hospice Foundation of America and Penn State University Medical Center, will be held February 17th, 2024, from 10:00am to 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church. The community is welcome to join Pastor C. J. Duffey and Reverend Peter McNabb for this important conversation. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided. Anyone over 18 years of age is welcome, but seating is limited. To reserve your seat or for more information, please call Nancy Rooks at 903-366-1616.
Greater Emmanuel MBC Celebrates Church Anniversary February 4, 2024
January 30, 2024 – Greater Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs will celebrate it’s Church Anniversary February 4th, 2024. The event will begin at 3:00pm. The special guest for the celebration will be Bishop Kerry Roy of True Gospel Ministries in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The church is located at 711 Fuller Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482. Reverend D. K. Young, Pastor. The public is invited.
Wood Ashes Can help Your Tomatoes From Master Gardener David Wall
January 29, 2024 – By saving fireplace or wood stove ashes this winter, you can use them in April to help grow bigger, better, and more productive tomato plants. Actually, wood ashes are very beneficial all over the vegetable garden. Besides raising the pH in overly acidic soils, wood ashes contain large amounts of calcium and potassium (potash), two nutrients tomato plants need in large quantities plus numerous other nutrients.
Calcium, for example, helps young tomato plants develop healthy cells and wall structure for strong stems and branches, and it also aids in successful germination of its blooms. Nearly 20% of a pile of ashes is made up of calcium.
Potassium, sometimes called potash. helps tomato plants absorb water, and a tomato is nearly 95% water. Potassium also aids photosynthesis, which helps tomato plants turn light into energy, that aid strong, healthy growth and more blooms. Wood ash also happens to contain magnesium, phosphorous and other trace nutrients that tomato plants love as well. Finally, ashes increase the soil’s ability to retain moisture.
The success is using ashes comes down to knowing when to apply them and in what quantity. One of the best times to use ashes is on planting day. Put 1.5 cups directly in your planting holes.
Placing your transplant deeper in the ground allow a better, faster root system to develop. Sprinkle some more around the planting hole. If you’ve ground your egg shells into powder, add two tablespoons to each hole. Finish by adding mulch around the plant.
To top dress, scatter about ½ a cup of ashes lightly around the base of each plant. Finish by mulching your tomato plants as you normally would with straw, shredded leaves or grass clippings. By putting the ash under the mulch, it will stay in place and do its job perfectly.
Paris Junior College Accreditation Renewed for Ten Years
January 29, 2024 – Just before the New Year, Paris Junior College received official news of reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). PJC’s institutional accreditation was reaffirmed with no recommendations for improvement, an important feat.
“I am thrilled to announce that Paris Junior College has received reaffirmation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges (SASCOC) with zero recommendations,” said Dr. Jerry King, PJC interim president. “This significant achievement is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and administration to uphold the highest standards of academic quality and institutional effectiveness.””
Every ten years, colleges and universities in Texas must go through the reaffirmation process. In order to receive federal financial aid (Pell Grants) for students, institutions must be accredited. SACSCOC requires completion of a Compliance Certification Report (CCR), the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), off- and on-site peer reviews, and a Commission review.
The College’s CCR demonstrated PJC’s judgment of the extent to which it complies with each of the 75 SASCOC Core Requirements and Standards, and was reviewed by an off-site SACSCOC committee of peers.
PJC developed a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) aligned to the College’s strategic plans that enhances student learning. The College chose to focus on student mastery of basic skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, both for better success in class and in students’ future workplaces.
An on-site SACSCOC committee of peers came to PJC last fall to review the CCR and QEP proposal, then created a written report intended to help the College improve programs and refine the QEP. The report also aids the Commission in making its decision to reaffirm accreditation.
Accreditation is a form of self-regulation and quality assurance in higher education. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the recognized accrediting body for higher education institutions that award associate, baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degrees in the 11 U.S. southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia), Latin America, and certain other international sites. Reaffirmation of accreditation requires the submission of a Fifth Year Interim Report (FYIR), decennial Compliance Certification Report (CCR), the development of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), off-site and on-site reviews, and review by Commission.
Paris Junior College’s no-finding reaccreditation was officially announced during the College Delegate Assembly Business Meeting as part of a report of accreditation and reaffirmation actions taken by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. The report came as part of the SACSCOC annual meeting held in December 2023 in Orlando, Florida.
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.
Jake Wilson Memorial Amateur One-Day Open Bass Team Tournament Coming Up in April
January 29, 2024 – The 7th Annual Jake Wilson Memorial Amateur One-Day Open Bass Team Tournament will take place April 20, 2024. The event will be hosted by Minnow Bucket Marina on the world famous Lake Fork. Registration entries must be postmarked by April 15th. Two person entry fee is $160.00. There will be a free kid fishing event, on the shoreline, from 10:00am to Noon.
Biden Cabinet Member to Visit Dallas to Highlight Black-Owned Small Business Boom
SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman will visit a Black woman-owned business, tour an SBA disaster loan processing center
January 29, 2024 – WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, will travel to Dallas, Texas, to highlight the Small Business Boom under the Biden-Harris Administration and the historic growth in Black entrepreneurship in states across America.
Administrator Guzman will first tour a Fort Worth SBA Loan Processing Center, where she will meet with field staff who help the agency process disaster recovery loans for small businesses and the communities they serve. Then, the Administrator will travel to a nearby Black woman-owned small business where, ahead of Black History Month, she will meet with the business owner to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s Black-owned Small Business Boom. Following her meeting with the business owner and tour of the facility, Administrator Guzman will travel to the Dallas Mavericks Corporate Headquarters for an event with the Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA), ZenBusiness, and Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce to discuss the future of diverse entrepreneurship in America.
The SBA Loan Processing Center tour and SBDA ZenBusiness event are closed press. The Black woman-owned small business tour will be open to members of the media who RSVP to [email protected].
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Sulphur Springs High School BPA Members Competed at the 2024 Regional Leadership Conference
January 29, 2024 – Sulphur Springs High School Business Professional of America (BPA) members competed Monday at the 2024 Regional Leadership Conference held at Vangaurd High School in Mesquite, Texas.
Twenty-six students placed in their respective events with 18 students qualifying for the State Leadership Conference in Corpus Christi.
Here are the results (Q- qualifying, A- state alternate)
Payroll Accounting:
Holden Moss 1st Q
Banking & Finance:
Claire Monk 2nd Q
Giovanni Hernandez 3rd Q
Annaston Price 4th Q
Personal Finance:
Kylie Clarke 4th Q
Fundamental Word Processing:
Madelynn Bailey 5th Q
Intermediate Word Processing:
Matthew Atkinson 5th Q
Basic Office Systems & Procedures:
Savanna Darrow 1st Q
Cameron Johnson 4th Q
Advanced Office Systems & Procedures:
Mika Boren 1st Q
Jaqueline Diosdado 3rd Q
Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications:
Daniel Gardner 2nd Q
Legal Office Systems & Procedures:
Austin Chaney 2nd Q
Administrative Support Research Project:
Gavin Solarzano 1st Q
Kenzie Posey 2nd Q
Business Law & Ethics:
Camilla Hidalgo 4th Q
Device Configuration & Troubleshooting:
Maddox Potts 5th Q
Charles Lee 6th A
Graphic Design Promotion:
Haley Hopkins 3rd A
Advanced Interview Skills:
Coryn Young 5th A
Harmony Goodman 4th A
Layla Pouge 3rd A
Amani Finnie 2nd Q
Human Resource Management:
Sawyer Shutt 5th A
Abby Noguera 4th A
Prepared Speech:
Jaden Allen 3rd A
