LaPrade named Region 7 Assistant Principal of the Year
By Wendi Callaway, Staff Writer
Ricky LaPrade has been a math teacher and coach at Grand Saline High School for several years. He was offered a part-time position as Assistant Principal to Gary Redding for the 2008-09 school year. During that year, he took care of administrative duties for half a day and then spent the other half in the classroom and coaching.
For the 2009-10 school year, Laprade was offered a full-time position as Assistant Principal. Towards the end of the year, LaPrade was nominated by Redding as a candidate for Region 7’s honor of being named the Assistant Principal of the Year.
Redding describes LaPrade as “being a 24/7 kind of guy”. According to Redding, as well as his other colleagues, “Whenever he is needed, he is there. Whenever he sees a problem, he takes care of it himself, instead of relying on others to solve it. Mr. LaPrade goes above and beyond. He is constantly tutoring kids who are having problems in math or on the Math TAKS. He helps them before school, after school, and kids will even come to him during school hours if they need help on a problem. Although LaPrade misses his classroom sometimes, he makes up for it by helping students, one on one, who are struggling.”
Region 7 covers 17 counties across East Texas, and countless secondary schools are included in this broad area. Any secondary school can nominate an assistant principal to be considered for this honor, and many do. The nomination must be made by a colleague of the person and reasons must be given as to why the person nominated should receive this honor over every other nominee. Then, the TASSP, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, which is a department of Region 7, forms a committee to go through all the nominations, make calls to superintendents to ask questions about the nominees, and then vote on who they think deserves the honor.
Out of nominees from almost 100 different school districts in East Texas, LaPrade was chosen to receive this honor. Redding was asked what he thought stood out about LaPrade or what possibly made LaPrade different from the other nominees. Redding responded, “Besides taking care of administrative duties and helping kids in math, Mr. LaPrade spends much of his spare time researching areas or issues about the school that need to be addressed. He is constantly looking for ways to make improvements in every aspect of the high school. It is evident that his primary concern is for the kids here and wanting what is best for them. He also works well with the community and getting the community involved in school activities.”
From here, Redding has encouraged LaPrade to apply for candidacy in the State Assistant Principal of the Year program, which will include larger school districts and steeper competition but Redding feels that he has a great chance of winning. In fact, Redding was surprised to get the call from Region 7 saying LaPrade had been chosen simply because in past years, the honor has always gone to someone from a larger school district. No one from Grand Saline has received this particular recognition before and it is indeed an honor for the Grand Saline Independent School District to have Ricky LaPrade as the Assistant High School Principal.
Texas Travelers Fastpitch Softball 1st East TX Team to Qualify for Gold Nationals
The Texas Travelers Fastpitch softball team based out of Quitman recently competed in an 18U gold Regional Qualifier in Beaumont. The team competed against 70 other teams and placed 3rd which advances them to 18U Gold nationals. This was the fourth qualifier for the team to play this year.
Nationals will be held in Marietta, Georgia this year on August 1st through August 8th. The Texas Travelers Gold have made history in that they are the 1st East Texas team to ever qualify for Gold Nationals. They will compete against 64 teams from all over the United States. Literally thousands of teams across the United States competed for one of 64 births for this national tournament. The entire team is made up of girls from East Texas, some who have already committed to colleges to play softball. Sarah Gipson who will graduate with the Grand Saline Class of 2011 is verbally committed to paly at Henderson State University. Anyone with questions about the team may call Steve Gipson at 903-873-6388 work or 903-714-8015 cell; or Robbie Huddleston at 903-850-2171 cell.
City Pool opens with new tubing in place
By Wendi Callaway, Staff Writer
After the chemical spill from the city pool pump that shut down Highway 80 for over two hours and caused the evacuation of homes within a 200 yard radius as well as a week of repairs on the pump and poli tubing, the Grand Saline City Pool is open again and ready for young patrons.
The Grand Saline Public Works replaced the poli tubing that dispensed chemicals into the pool from the pump. The tubing had become so brittle from age that it broke, releasing muriatic acid into the air, which, in gaseous form, is dangerous to inhale. The tubing is designed in pools to be replaced every three years or so, but this tubing had been neglected for a while.
Once the tubing was replaced, the ph balance in the pool was not leveling out correctly as it should so a commercial pool company from Denton was called in to correct the problem. It was established that the indicators that released chlorine bleach and muriatic acid into the pool at intervals in order to keep the chemicals balanced with each other were sending signals to opposite sensors, causing the balance to be unlevel. Until it was corrected, it was dangerous for anyone to be in the pool, so it was shut down until the problem was corrected.
The city is looking into purchasing a sensor with an automatic shut off valve, which would ultimately shut off the pumps if it sensed an imbalance in the chemicals being dispensed. The sensor would be installed in the pool pump and would help to prevent problems similar to what has happened in the last two weeks.
As of Monday, July 19, the pool is open and will remain open through part of August, so citizens can get their swim time in before the pool closes for the summer and school begins.
Photos from recent Chemical spill at City Pool
K2 becoming a problem
By Wendi Callaway, Staff Writer
Reports are surfacing that the use of a new herbal incense which is meant to be used as a fragrance is now being smoked like marijuana by some individuals. According to some anonymous teenagers, K2 can be smoked just like marijuana. It visibly gets users high like marijuana does and the price for 3 to 5 grams is approximately $20, which is slightly higher than marijuana. And presently, it is legal to purchase, and has been seen for sale in the area as well as on the internet.
The substance, often called "Spice," "Genie," or "Zohai", looks similar to marijuana with confetti mixed in it. Herbs, spices, potpourri and even dried flowers are crushed and then sprayed with a synthetic compound chemically similar to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and mostly made in China. Although the label of K2 plainly reads NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, it is being smoked in joints or pipes, just like marijuana.
According to the limited research on the substance, it appears that the key ingredients in K2 are believed to be the unintended result of scientific research, specifically the research of Dr. John Huffman. Huffman, a Clemson University organic chemistry professor, was researching the effects of cannabinoids on the brain when his work resulted in a 1995 paper that contained the method and ingredients used to make the compound that is found in K2. The recipe appears to have found its way to marijuana users, who replicated Huffman's work and began spraying it onto dried flowers, herbs and tobacco.
K2 is banned in much of Europe, but, as of February of 2010, had not yet been regulated in the States. The substance seems to have only appeared in the States, for sale in local stores and easily accessible, around early November of 2009. A Missouri bill has sought to make possession punishable by up to seven years in prison. A Kansas bill has made possession a misdemeanor, with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Both laws are identical to marijuana penalties in those states. Reports show that now, five states have banned the substance completely and some towns have passed ordinances prohibiting the sale of the substance altogether or limiting the sale to adults.
Issues concerning the substance came to the attention of national media in early February. Users of K2 comment on different effects of the substance. One user comments that the high experienced is similar to that caused by marijuana but it only lasts for a few minutes. Another user warned people to stay away from the substance, claiming he had to be rushed to the hospital when he almost went into cardiac arrest after smoking K2. He says it made his heart beat very fast and he felt nauseated, bad enough to think he might be having a heart attack.
Other reports show that some side effects of smoking K2 include seizures, bradycardia, tachycardia, (An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly) black outs, anxiety and paranoia, redness of eyes, and cotton-mouth.
Others defend the product by stating that it is legal, there is nothing law enforcement can do about it for now, and most stores only sell it to adults over the age of 18, as they do tobacco. However, like tobacco, some kids are smoking K2, thinking it’s a fun, safe, legal way to enjoy the effects of pot without the danger and accompanying paranoia of getting caught.
Some tobacco shop owners and “headshop” owners who sell K2 in their stores as incense report that they have never had customers complain about harmful side effects from inhaling it. They also report that the ingredients are clearly marked on the package and everyone who purchases K2 or any tobacco product must show a valid ID. One store owner even claimed that she will stop selling the product if there is ever any medical proof that it is harmful.
Although there is no medical evidence of permanent side effects in humans as of yet, the DEA says that when tested on mice, it lead to lower body temperature, partial paralysis and the temporary inability to feel pain.
On July 6, at approximately 9:17 pm, Grand Saline Police Officer Ron Duke was dispatched to a residence in Grand Saline for a medical emergency. The persons living in the home claimed they had both smoked K2, which they had purchased at a tattoo parlor in Dallas after hearing about it on the news. They called 911 once they felt the effects of their reaction to the substance. They both claim to have shared a joint between them and immediately experienced elevated anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and chest pain. One of them started hyperventilating. Once the Grand Saline EMS, 411 arrived, both persons were transported to Cozby-Germany Hospital for medical treatment.
Users of K2 should consider the effects that have been reported by some users, and although it is legal to purchase right now, users should carefully weigh its risks.
Parents should be aware of the presence and potential harm of this substance and that kids may have access to K2, as well as the indicators of its usage are similar to those seen in marijuana users. Currently, the product is being sold in Grand Saline in at least one location if not more and over the internet. It is also available in nearby towns, and IDs are not checked closely in all these locations.
The Grand Saline Police Department is currently working on a city ordinance that will ban this product from being sold or used in Grand Saline, but until the ordinance is passed, citizens should use caution and be aware and careful concerning the use of K2.
In checking the website for one retailer of this product, Herbal & Botanical Incense, only phone numbers are listed. This retailer has the following statement on their website: “We, the Seller do NOT supply instructions of proper use of any product provided, so please do not ask us any questions regarding the many different uses for the herbs offered on this site.” Many products are often used in ways not intended by the manufacturer or retailers. Parents should visit with their children about the harmful effects of this product as well as any others.
VZ Crime Stoppers Offer Reward for County Road Sign Thefts & Vandalism
The Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers (VZCCS) is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of people involved in the theft and/or destruction of road signs. The group is offering a $100 reward per tip, plus $50 for each sign that is recovered from the thief or thieves. To qualify for the reward, anyone with information about sign-related crimes can call VZCCS at 903-567-STOP (567-7867) and give that information without identifying themselves. Once an arrest is made, the caller will be able to collect their Crime Stoppers reward.
“People who steal or damage county road signs may not realize the harm they can cause,” said Andy Flowers, president of Van Zandt County Crime Stoppers. “The lack of a road sign or a stop sign can hinder sheriff, police, fire, or ambulance response and put lives at risk. It also costs the county taxpayers a significant amount of money every year to replace these signs.”
According to the VZ Commissioners, it cost taxpayers nearly $20,000 in 2009 to buy and install signs and posts to replace those that were stolen or damaged. So far this year, sign replacement has cost the county about $12,000, not counting a recent rash of sign thefts in Precinct 3.
Flowers said Crime Stoppers is targeting road sign thefts and vandalism at this time because of the damage these crimes do to citizens at large and to the county treasury.
VZCCS uses cash from criminal court fines and donations to finance its rewards of up to $1,000 for anonymous tipsters. More information about Crime Stoppers is available online at www.vanzandtcrimestoppers.org or by calling the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.
Seven-Year-Old Touted as HERO by Van Zandt Constables
On March 14, 2010, at 1:55 p.m., a mother’s worst nightmare occurred. After washing one side of her vehicle, mom was going to turn the vehicle around to get the other side. Her three year old son, Cameron McCormick, was sent around to the back of the residence to turn the water off, but he ran back behind the car. The vehicle struck Cameron with the back bumper’s right side. This knocked Cameron to the ground where the right back tire ran over his head. Cameron’s brother who is seven years old saw the accident and stopped his mother from running over Cameron with the front of the car. His quick actions as well as helping his mother get EMS on the scene to care for Cameron warrants the Van Zandt County Constables to honor Matthew Garrett McCormick. Matthew is a seven year old talented individual who attends Grand Saline School. He is involved in Karate and has achieved a Purple Belt. Last Friday, the Van Zandt County Constables recognized Matthew McCormack as a HERO for saving his brother’s life.
Saxon Surveying to survey 24 acres west of HS and Elementary School
By: Jo Wise, Staff Writer
The Grand Saline Independent School District’s Board of Trustees met for their regular board meeting on July 19th. Trustees present were Sharon Slayden, Becky Kindle, Walt Bryant, Dan Carroll and Rodney Easley.
The Trustees approved, rejected, took no action, discussed or tabled the following agenda items:
• Approved Minutes of meetings for June 21st, June 24th and July 12th.
• Approved the financial report for June.
• Approved the Van Zandt Cooperative Special Education Shared Service Arrangement agreement.
• Approved budget amendments.
• Approved the calendar for teacher appraisals.
• Approved the list of qualified PDAS appraisers.
• Approved Bimbo Bakeries of Lewisville to provide bread products.
• Approved Blue Bell Creameries of Longview for ice cream products.
• Approved Williams Oil Company of Mineola for fuel and oil products.
• Approved Saxon Surveying of Mineola to provide a survey of 24 acres including the building sites west of the High School and the Elementary School at a cost of $13,500.
• Approved motion to keep the existing elementary cafeteria and first grade building for future use, and remove the remaining buildings on the campus.
• Approved renewing property and casualty insurance with Texas Schools Property and Casualty Cooperative at a discount cost of $43,643 to include a three-year option on the agreement.
• Approved scheduling board meeting to execute the sale of bonds on July 26, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
• Approved authorizing Superintendent Mark Keahey to hire professional staff members for the remainder of the summer or through August 22, 2010.
• Reports were given on maintenance, upcoming workshops and training, no information was received from Schneider Electric for the energy savings report, and corrections were recommended for handbooks; and budget was discussed.
The board adjourned into executive session at 8:08 p.m. to consider the Middle School cheerleading eligibility for the Middle School cheerleading program; and entered back into open session at 9:12 p.m.
• Approved a motion to support the administration ruling regarding the Middle School cheerleading concern.
• Approved a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m.
New Art Program Beginning at GSISD
By: Wendi Callaway, Staff Writer
For years, the students at Grand Saline ISD have asked for Art classes to be available to them as an elective. Many teachers have commented on how artistically talented many students in the school district are, as demonstrated in Yearbook classes, Journalism, Theater, Student Council, Band as well as other classes. However, these students did not have the proper venue they needed to express their artistic abilities.
Most children have different or unique learning abilities. Some kids learn better through auditory instruction; some kids learn better through kinesthetic instruction or hands-on instruction, and some kids learn better through visual demonstrations and visual props. The Arts are an excellent way for visual learners to be able to understand everything from mathematical concepts to literature, history, geography, science and much more.
The administration at GSISD recognized the needs and desires of the students and hired Vonda Look to create a solid secondary art program that will grow quickly and become an important component of both the school district and the community.
Vonda Look will teach art at the Middle School for three class periods, one for each grade. She will also teach three Art I classes for high school students and one Art II class for high school students who demonstrate an advanced artistic ability. Each high school student in the course will be evaluated and only a few of them will be offered a spot in the advanced class.
Mrs. Look has nine years of teaching experience in art at multiple grade levels. She taught elementary art in Round Rock for five years, then high school art in Round Rock for one year before moving to McKinney, where she taught high school art for two years. Then she met her husband, got married and moved to East Texas, where she taught art at Robert E. Lee High School in Tyler last year. Upon moving to East Texas from McKinney, Mrs. Look inquired about open art educator positions all over East Texas around the Longview area, since she and her husband made their home in Hideaway. Grand Saline was one of several places she sent her resume to.
Two years after she sent her resumes out, High School Principal Gary Redding called Mrs. Look asking whether she was still interested to teach in Grand Saline because GSISD had decided to start an art program here. Mrs. Look was excited about the opportunity and was hired within the week. She is looking forward to starting the program from scratch and is thrilled that the administration is so supportive of her ideas. She had been searching for a position in a smaller school where there is more of a sense of community than in larger schools.
Look joins the Grand Saline ISD Faculty with not only valuable teaching experience, but also a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Houston, an all-level certification from UT at Austin and an extensive background in photography. She is also an avid diver and has had some of her underwater photography published in a documentary film about diving.
Plans for Grand Saline’s young artists are to get their artwork out into the community—to have seen by everyone. She would like to encourage businesses in town to possibly display student art work in the lobbies or foyers of their businesses.
Additionally, she is asking for businesses and individuals alike to box up anything they intend to throw away or discard that could be used in her art classes. This could include things like cardboard, buttons, fabric, torn curtains, towels, small furniture, scrap wood, bike wheels, scrap metal, plastic containers, cups, yarn, baling wire, cereal boxes, paint—even old tools, nails, screws, clean pizza boxes, old costumes, vases, tablecloths—the list goes on. Things that you might not originally associate with art could be used in art in a variety of ways. For example, drapes, wheels, furniture and costumes are perfect for still-life drawings. Torn towels make perfect paint rags. Cardboard can be used as canvases; cereal boxes can be turned into 3-dimensional sculptures. The possibilities are limitless. Please box up those things you no longer want or intend to discard and mark the box “FOR ART” and take it to the Middle School campus where it will be delivered to Mrs. Look.
Mrs. Look plans on inviting local artists to visit with the students or take the students to where artists work in their individual trades so they can see what opportunities are available to them as career options. She will also enter student artwork in art competitions such as VASE and Jr. VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event). She would like to have a Cultural Arts day, which she found to be very successful in other schools, where artists, musicians, actors and designers come together for one day to display or perform for all the students.
An annual end-of-year Art Exhibit will highlight the talents of the students and allow them to further boast about their abilities. Throughout the school year, students will be encouraged to help promote school spirit in sports and school activities through art, examine possibilities for permanent displays or installations at the school, participate in community projects and think of artistic fundraisers for the program. If anyone would like to volunteer to help out in any of the larger art projects planned throughout the year or have questions concerning materials that might be donated, please contact Vonda Look at the Middle School campus or email vlook@grandsalineisd.net. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
The Grand Saline Sun will be publishing student artwork and student photography on a regular basis and let the community know about upcoming projects and activities involving the art students. We will also display student artwork in our office for everyone who comes by the office to view and we encourage other businesses to do the same. Please join us in welcoming Vonda Look to the community and to the faculty of Grand Saline ISD.
ESD No2 Board Members Accept Petition, Shock Public Hearing Participants
By Vy Townsend Malcik, Contributing Writer
After almost two hours of hearing 36-39 pleas to reject the petition that would require another election in November and nine pleas to accept the petition, the ESD No2 Board Members voted with the minority sentiment of Grand Saline citizens present in the City Pavilion on Monday night. The petition seeks to have another election on whether to keep the Emergency Services District. When state officials were contacted about the Grand Saline controversy, they expressed shock, saying that ESDs are being established all over the state of Texas and are extremely valuable and popular, providing a uniquely-suited and effective way to provide emergency services to rural areas. A hearing to create the Van Zandt Emergency Services District No. 3 for the Wills Point area was recently approved by county commissioners at the July 13 meeting.
President of the Board Doyle Milliorn began the meeting declaring that the meeting would be conducted according to the laws and instructions of the Assistant Attorney General in Austin. He gave a specific time limit for speakers, requested that speakers address the Board and not the audience, and declared there would be no question and answer period.
At the end of the citizen statements about 110 minutes later, he closed the public hearing and said that the board would meet and give their decision in five minutes. People stood in shock and seemed to anticipate that the five board members would retire to privacy to discuss their decision.
However, 30 seconds later Milliorn called for a motion to accept the petition. He could have requested a motion to deny the petition. Mary Ann Ritchie immediately made the motion to approve the petition, and Sid Shumake quickly seconded it. Milliorn then called for a vote of the five board members. Doyle Milliorn, John Roberson, Sid Shumake and Mary Ann Ritchie immediately raised their hands. The audience gasped. However, Milliorn did not even ask for a show of hands for those who voted no. He did not even look from side to side to count the hands raised. He then said without consulting any other board member that Ray Carnes abstained. This action, in itself, is a breech of Roberts Rules of Order - parliamentary procedure by which all public meetings in Texas are conducted. Carnes smiled, and said he did not abstain. According to Jeanne Ann Lea, “It was exceedingly clear that the vote was carefully orchestrated before the hearing ever began. The public hearing was a farce. Board members were following the letter of the law, but the hearing was only theatre.”
For almost two hours people had spoken, some passionately, some with extreme objectivity, some who had experience as fire and medical professionals with the ESD. People complied with the wishes of the Board in their comments, made pleas for continuing fire and emergency medical protection, and hoped their concerns about what happens when a city loses such protection would be heard.
In an impromptu interview immediately following the decision, this reporter asked Mary Ann Ritchie why she voted the way she did. According to Ritchie, her vote had nothing to do with the ESD, and she was responding to the nearly 500 people who had signed the petition in 2010, which was a larger number than those who had voted in 2006. Ritchie said, “Nothing changes. We will continue to pay the ESD $43,750 every three months until November when the continuation of this body will be left up to voters. I want to put the decision back on taxpayers to see what they will do in November.” When asked where she had received the authority to try to force voters do something, she had no response. When asked what her motivation was in approving such an unpopular petition she said, “I am not going to reply further because if I express my true feelings I might get in trouble.”
During the meeting many people told of ways the ESD had saved their lives or the lives and health of their families and friends. Some of the stories were extremely poignant. Nine people spoke about being denied their right to vote, and that this should take precedence over consideration of the all-volunteer fire and medical emergency agency. They admitted that in 2006 elections they were not paying attention, were late to the polls, did not know what they were voting for; even some openly professed their ignorance about the voting process, but these same people were demanding a do-over because of their earlier complacency. A few of them said they did want the ESD to remain, but they wanted their own chance to vote about the issue.
This controversy started when the Van Zandt County Election Officials chose the Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 1 Office for the initial election, which was too small to handle two elections simultaneously in 2006. Could Monday night’s display of varied emotions have been avoided?
Did Democracy take a blow this time because procedures were not followed properly?
Dr. Ingrim Back as Chief of Staff at Cozby Germany Hospital
Dr. Richard Ingrim has recently returned to the Cozby Germany Hospital as Chief of Staff. According to Dr. Ingrim, “A number of changes are being made and further information will be provided to the news media shortly.” New interim Administrator Sean Astolfo who also is the current Administrator of the Renaissance Hospital in Terrell advised the Sun that specifically several changes in administrative and emergency room personnel have been made.
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