May Primary Runoff Through Early Voting
Early Voting numbers are in for the May Primary Runoff Election. Total votes will be announced when counted. Local votes:
Republican County Treasurer:
Andrea Griggs: 109, Absentee; 367 Early Voting; Total through Early Voting: 476
Danny Davis: 99, Absentee; 444 Early Voting; Total through Early Voting: 543
County Commissioner Precinct #2
Greg Anglin: 23, Absentee; 112 Early Voting; Total through Early Voting: 135
Edward (Ed) Moore: 37, Absentee; 118 Early Voting; Total through Early Voting: 155
Democratic Party
Lupe Valdez: Early Voting 81
Andrew White: Early Voting 70
PJC Regents Make Additions to Core Curriculum
by Paul Bailey
In order to smooth the transfer path for students planning to go on to a bachelor’s degree, the Paris Junior College Board of Regents made a few additions to the core curriculum. The State of Texas approves a basic core curriculum and 42 hours of any of those classes are guaranteed to transfer to any public university in the state. From that core, colleges select which classes to offer. The regents added some math, science, social science, and literature courses needed largely for transferring education and engineering majors.
In other business, the Regents:
- Approved the audit engagement letter to retain McClanahan Holmes for the annual audit of Paris Junior College and the PJC Memorial Foundation.
- Accepted Texas Association of School Board’s Local Policy Update 34 to the governing policies of the college. Normally there is only one update per year, but a second was received reflecting additional changes from PJC’s accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
- Approved the sale of property tax written off tax roles.
- Set the budget workshop for Tuesday, July 10 at 5:30 p.m.
- Received the report that an Open House for Health Occupations has been set for July 26 from 4-6 p.m. in the Workforce Training Center.
- Approved the employment of Dr. Gregory Ferenchak as Dean of Health Occupations effective Aug. 1, Stanton Gartin as Vice President of Academic Studies effective July 1, Madison Martin as Student Recruiter / Academic Advisor effective May 21, Rosalyn Tindel as Instructor and Women’s Basketball Coach, effectie June 1, and Evan Camperell as Soccer Coach, effective June 25.
The board also accepted the resignation of Talent Search Advisor Lydia Carrascosa effective May 16, Student Activities Coordinator Leanna Swart effective May 25, and Human Resources Director Paula White effective May 31; and the retirement of Payroll and Benefits Coordinator Sharon Wood effective Sept. 30.
Perot Museum Kicks Off Memorial Day Weekend With Summer-Themed Activities, Extended Hours, Discounts MAY 25-28
May 22, 2018 – Erupting watermelons, slime and sharks! As summer unofficially kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science has summer-themed science activities and a totally transformed Being Human Hall to fill your three-day weekend.
From May 25-28, guests can enjoy daily activities involving summertime sand slime, erupting watermelons, fireflies, shark dissections, ocean waves and more. Children 5 and under can get hands on with patriotic discovery bottles, hurricane exploration and art activities in the Moody Family Children’s Museum, plus all visitors can take advantage of extended hours through Sept. 3.
A don’t-miss highlight is the newly reimagined Being Human Hall, which underwent a major renovation and now features twice as many interactive displays and dozens of experiences all offered in English and Spanish. Visitors can witness one of the world’s only displays of a human brain with a still-intact spinal cord, try on a prosthetic running blade or send brain wave messages to fire off pulsing lights by merely thinking. A virtual reality experience transports guests into the South African cave system where internationally renowned paleoanthropologist Dr. Lee Berger discovered a new species of human relative. A dozen authentic stone tool artifacts (some more than a million years old!) are displayed by a full figure of “Lucy,” the famous Australopithecus afarensis.
After exploring what it means to be human, visitors can chill out with a 3D film including Flying Monsters 3D, Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland and Museum Alive 3D.
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (May 25-Sept. 3), veterans, active and retired U.S. military personnel, and first responders will receive complimentary general admission plus $3 off general admission for their immediate family members (up to six people). In addition, the Community Partners Ticket Program returns to provide greater access to lower-income families, offering $1 general admission for guests who qualify based on need.
To fit in all the fun, the Perot Museum will stay open until 6 p.m. beginning Friday (May 25).
For more info and to purchase tickets in advance, go to perotmuseum.org/summer.
Video Presentation: Dairy Festival Queens Dinner 2018
The 2018 Dairy Festival Queen’s Dinner hosted by Queen Jaci Reed was May 21st at The Alcove on Celebration Plaza. Candidates for the Dairy Festival Queen title, their parents, and members of the Dairy Festival Board were guests.
Meal A Day Needs Volunteer Cooks for Wednesday, Thursday; Route Driver for Monday
Meal A Day, located at the Senior Center on Martin Luther King Drive, is in need of cooks for Wednesday and Thursday. These positions are not the lead cook, so volunteers will need to be able to follow directions of the lead cook. Cooks for Friday will be needed in June. Meal A Day also needs a volunteer route driver for each Monday.
Cooks start work at 7 a.m. and are usually finished by 11 a.m. The cooks are needed due to relocation of one cook and the need for extra cooks on other days due to vacations.
If you are interested in volunteering, please call Karon Weatherman at (903) 885-1661.
A “Salute to Excellence” For All Area Graduates of the Class of 2018!
The staff of KSST, Channel 18 TV and ksstradio.com salute the hard work and commitment to excellence that graduates of the area schools have shown as they prepare for their big day, graduation. It is our privilege to congratulate them and wish them unlimited success!
There are 50 senior classmen who will receive diplomas at Como-Pickton High School graduation in the Eagles’ Heflin Field on Friday May 25 at 7:30pm. (in case of rain, in secondary cafeteria) High School Valedictorian is Y’Asandra Preciado and Salutatorian is Hannah Anderson. Como-Pickton Jr. Hi graduation is Thursday May 24 at 6pm in the secondary cafeteria. Out of 49 graduates, Kira Lange and Sandra Tran had top GPA scores.
Twenty-three North Hopkins students will cross the stage in the Panthers high school gym on Saturday May 26 at 3pm. Record-setting top students are twins; Rachel Stanley, Valedictorian and Samuel Stanley, Salutatorian.
Saltillo ISD will hold Commencement in Kerry Garmon Gym on Friday May 25 at 7pm with 17 students receiving diplomas. Guadalupe Olayo is Valedictorian and Sylvia Feijen is Salutatorian. The Saltillo 8th grade class will graduate on Thursday at 7pm in Kerry Garmon Gym.
The Sulphur Bluff Class of 2018 will walk for their diplomas on Friday May 25 at 6:30 pm in Bears Gym. There are fourteen graduating seniors. Taking top honors and making school history are co-valedictorians Turner South and Karlie Self.
The new Hornets Gym will host Commencement for Miller Grove High School on Friday May 25 at 7pm. Leading the class of 21 graduating seniors are Valedictorian Kaleigh Poteet and Salutatorian Nora Resindiz. Miller Grove Junior High will hold graduation on Thursday at 7pm with Jacob George and Isaiah Billingsley at the top of the 8th grade class.
Cumby ISD is proud to present Lauren Hudson as class Valedictorian. Lauren also graduated Summa Cum Laude from PJC with an Associate of Arts Degree in Education. Ashley Hagood is Salutatorian of the Cumby Trojans Class of 2018. Commencement will be held at Texas A and M University in Commerce of Friday May 25 at 7pm.
Sulphur Springs ISD has 259 students who will be handed their diplomas on Friday May 25 at 8pm in the Hopkins County Civic Center. (the location was changed from Prim Stadium) Peyton Deitze is Valedictorian and Sarah Harper is Salutatorian of the Wildcats Class of 2018.
Mt. Vernon ISD will hold Commencement in Don Meredith Stadium at 8pm on Friday May 25 for 104 graduating seniors. Top students are Rachel Asay and Sydni Steen.
Twenty-four Yantis Owls will cross the stage for their diplomas on Saturday June 2 at 6pm in the Yantis High School Gym. Jazlyn Jenkins and Samantha Swasso top their class in GPA scores.
Two Buys, Two Dates, One Arrest
May 22, 2018 – Two separate purchases of methamphetamine on two separate dates led to warrants for the arrest of Jackson Blaze Gilreath, 22, of Sulphur Springs. The purchases of approximately 2.6 grams of meth from Gilreath were made by the Special Crimes Unit.
Jackson Blaze Gilreath
Gilreath was arrested at Clayton Homes Monday at 2:12 p.m. by officers of the SCU.
He is in Hopkins County Jail charged with one count of Manufacture Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams, Felony 2, and Manufacture Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 1-gram, a state jail felony. He is being held on bonds totaling $40,000.
Capacity Attendance at Annual Reilly Springs Cemetery Memorial Day
More than 200 persons were present for Reilly Springs Cemetery Memorial Day services on the third Sunday in May at the quaint community where flags still fly and families still worship. Services were conducted in the sanctuary of the former Reilly Springs Methodist Church by members of the cemetery Board of Directors. Ted Boggs led the opening prayer, music and memories were presented by Bill Owens, Tonya Miller Ross brought the children up for a song, and Kim Morton and Rebel Roed presented roses to families. Among the oldest men and women were Warren King and Artie Mae Bailey, and the largest group was the Mary Koon family. Persons traveling the farthest came from Denver and Chicago. A stirring message was given by Pastor Lester Harper of the Reilly Springs Baptist Church. Afterward, attendees made their way across to the Reilly Springs Community Center where tables were spread with all kinds of foods and homemade desserts . The cemetery and public buildings in Reilly Springs are within walking distance of each other, along on a shady tree-lined lane.
Reilly Springs Baptist Church pastor Lester Harper presented the message
Artie Mae Bailey was among the oldest women attending
The former Reilly Springs Schoolhouse is now a community center and houses a monthly Jamboree. The Baptist Church, located next door to the south, has an active congregation. The former Methodist church building across the way is now privately owned, and owners Terry and Leslie McCullough have preserved the sanctuary for community needs and use. The Reilly Springs Cemetery was established in 1863. The brick fence around the cemetery was commissioned by Finis Attlesee and built by Ted Boggs during the 1980’s. Much of the early history of the Reilly Springs Community placed on the site of Texas State Historical Association was contributed by the late local historian Florene Chapman Adams.
Bill Owens was among those enjoying the covered dish lunch Wanda Vanginault Alkire found a photo of her mother Ina Bryant Vanginault and best friend Reba Ponder in the Community Center’s photo display
Mickey Ledbetter and Ted Boggs, longtime residents of Reilly Springs
Today is Primary Runoff Election Day
This is Primary Runoff Election Day in Texas. In Hopkins County, voting places have been consolidated for this election. There are four polling places, open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., in the city of Sulphur Springs and one in Precinct 2 that will accommodate voters include the Lutheran Church on Texas Street, the Courthouse downtown, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Fuller Street, and League Street Church of Christ and Como-Pickton School on Highway 11 E.
Republicans are voting for nominees for Hopkins County Treasurer and Commissioner Precinct 2. Since there are not Democrat challengers, those who receive the nomination will be the only ones for those offices on the ballot in November. Democrats are voting in state runoff races only. Hopkins County registered voters, qualified to vote in the runoff election, may cast ballots at any of the voting places today.
KSST will report vote totals on local races tonight after the polls close and votes are counted.
