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All children have the potential to succeed in life and contribute to society; however, not all children get the support they need to thrive.
For some children it is harder than most. Single parent homes, neighborhoods riddled with crime, poor role models, and poverty can lead a child to despair, lack of self-worth and ultimately poor choices.
It is estimated the an astounding 17.6 million young people, which is nearly half the population of young people between 10 and 18 years of age, live in situations that put them at risk of not living up to their potential.
Without immediate intervention by caring adults, they could make choices that not only undermine their futures, but, ultimately, the economic and social well-being of our nation and community.
A few hours a month can literally transform lives. A child feels more confident when a caring adult helps with homework.
Children grow when they are taken out to a football game or when they try a new hobby.
A Big Brother or Big Sister can give advice or lend an ear when a child is struggling with everyday pressures of our modern world.
By sharing activities and exposing a child to new experiences, a mentor encourages positive choices, promotes high self-esteem, supports academic achievement and introduces the child to new ideas.
By using the mentor’s influence and resources, new hope can be brought to a child’s life and that is exactly what the local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency is doing in our community.
Volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters just means being a friend, and we will make sure your friendship fits your lifestyle.
There are few things in a person’s life more important than friendship. The importance of sharing concerns, ideas, interests or just time with someone makes life much richer and more fulfilling.
Big Brothers Big Sisters understands the importance of friendship and believes the power of friendship can change lives.
You can be a friend to a child while eating lunch at their school through our school-based program, or spend an hour a week playing a game, going to the park, baking cookies or even enjoy a movie together through our community based program.
We even have programs to include your spouse or your whole family. The children enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program range between 6 to 14 years of age.
You do not have to change your life as it is, just include your new friend in the activities you already enjoy.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Big Brothers Big Sisters please do not hesitate to call Emily Neeley at 903.784.7388 ext. 503 or visit our office at 2803 Clarksville Street – Paris, TX.
You can also visit www.bbbstx.org. Start Something for Kids in Your Community.
Xavier Roberson
PASADENA, Texas — Paris Junior College had victory in its sights in a Region 14 basketball showdown Saturday with San Jacinto College, the nation’s sixth-ranked junior college team.
But the Dragons, leading 81-80 on Mo Hughley’s two free throws, committed a turn-over and missed two free throws in the final minute, giving Marsell Holden and the Ravens all the chance they needed.
Holden made an NBA-range 3-footer with 19 seconds to play for an 83-81 San Jacinto lead.
Chris Richardson, San Jac’s 6-8 center, blocked Mo Hughley’s shot under the PJC basket with 13 seconds, and Holden added two free throws with 9 seconds left for the 85-81 victory.
Hughley led Paris with 17 points, backed by 16 points from A.J. Jones, 15 from Xavier Roberson and 13 from R.J. McGhee.
The first half was closely contested, with the lead going back and forth. Flavien Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers late in the first half that helped San Jac take a 39-35 halftime lead.
Holden opened the second half with a 3-pointer, and teammate Adrian Morales followed two Paris turnovers with 3-pointers of his own, as San Jac opened up a 13-point lead (48-35) in less than two and a half minutes of the second half.
Paris coach Chuck Taylor called two timeouts in 30 seconds and sent in his second unit, which quickly got the Dragons back into the game.
Hughley scored three goals in heavy traffic underneath and added a free throw. Cornelius Commack was fouled and made both free throws.
R.J. McGhee
McGhee scored two goals, one from outside the 3-point line, and added a couple of free throws, , and San Jacinto’s lead had been cut to 55-51 with 12:50 to play.
Roberson hit a 3-pointer that brought Paris to within 55-54, and A.J. Jones’ 3-point play gave the Dragons a 59-57 lead with 10:56 remaining.
The rest of the way was nip-and-tuck, with the Dragons twice opening up four-point leads.
San Jacinto’s lead was never more than one point until Holden’s go-ahead 3-pointer and free throws at the end.
Hughley made two free throws and A.J. Jones scored a basket that put Paris ahead 79-76 with 1:44 to play.
But free throws provided San Jacinto with the crucial edge. Lorenzo Freeman made two free throws with 1:31 to play to cut PJC’s lead to 78-77.
Paris went down court, but misfired. San Jac came back and Holden drew a foul, making both free throws for an 80-79 lead with 1:16 to play.
Then Hughley made two free throws, and Paris was back up 81-80. But those were the Dragons’ last points.
When Richardson, a 54 percent free throw shooter, missed both his attempts with 38 seconds to play, it gave PJC the ball with a one-point lead.
But the Ravens fouled Generra Varmall right away. To that point, Paris was 25-of-32 free throws for the night, including 2-of-4 by Varmall. Both his shots bounced away, and San Jac rebounded and came down court for Holden’s long outside shot.
In the last 10 minutes of the second half, Paris made 9-of-14 free throws, while San Jacinto made 19-of-24 free throws to go with only three field goals.
For the season, Holden is 89 percent from the free throw line. Against Paris, he was “only” 13-of-17 (76 percent).
After the game, San Jacinto coach Scott Gernander was complimentary of the Dragons.
“What a game! Paris has a heck of a team. This was one of those games you just knew was going to go to the end,” Gernander said.
After starting out slow, Holden led all scorers with 31 points, including five 3-pointers.
“They did a heck of a job on Marsell,” Gernander said. “But when we needed him, he came up with some big plays. Richardson came up with a heck of a block (on Hughley) in the last few seconds.”
The City of Paris has appealed former city manager Kevin Carruth’s unemployment claim that could cost the city almost $11,000 over the next six months over and above his $140,000 severance package.
Carruth earned $110,000 a year as city manager, plus a $500 monthly car allowance.
In lieu of being fired, Carruth agreed on Dec. 21 to resign on Jan. 1, and signed a severance agreement providing him with full pay and benefits through March 1, followed by a lump sum amount on April 1 that will bring the total severance package to $140,000.
In return, Carruth agreed to make himself available through March 31 “for consultation and assistance in transition of city management.”
The severance agreement bound both the city and Carruth to “hereby forever release each other from any and all complaints, charges, claims, liabilities, demands, debts, accounts, obligations, promises, suits, actions, causes of action, and demands in law and in equity, including claims for damages, attorneys’ fees or costs.”
Interim city manager Gene Anderson said Friday that he received a call in early January from an official with the Texas Workforce Commission notifying him of Carruth’s unemployment claim.
Anderson, who is also the city’s finance director, said he told the official the city would challenge the claim and sent the official a copy of the severance agreement.
Paris City Council members were informed in a brief executive session on Jan. 24 of Carruth’s unemployment claim and the city’s intent to appeal.
“We sent in our appeal yesterday,” Anderson said Friday.
To be eligible for unemployment, a person must “be unemployed or partially unemployed through no fault of your own,” according to the TWC’s pamphlet “Unemployed Benefits at a Glance.”
In Carruth’s resignation letter on Dec. 30, he wrote:
“It is my desire to continue to serve the employees and citizens of the City of Paris as city manager. However, changes in the City Council majority have created an ethical environment I no longer wish to be associated with. Consequently, I hereby resign as city manager, effective at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, January 1, 2011.”
The Workforce Commission says an individual shall be deemed “totally unemployed” in any benefit period during which he performs no services and with respect to which no wages are payable to him.
A Texas resident seeking unemployment benefits is eligible to receive between $60 and $415 a week, depending upon how much he earned.
Anderson said he was told the maximum amount the city would be liable for if Carruth receives unemployment would be $10,490.
That works out to be 26 weeks at $415 a week.
If Carruth is cleared for unemployment benefits, the city would be asked to reimburse the state dollar for dollar.
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Bywaters Park Persityle is under restoration at last. Two contracts have been awarded for the project. The restoration portion of the contract was awarded to Bryco and the foundation work to Spann Concrete. The tentative start date was Feb. 7th for Bryco to start the disassembly, however Bryco arrived and began their work this week.
During this time, the Peristyle will be undergo 3 professional cleanings. First is a basic power washing. The second cleaning involves a special stone cleaner called “safe-restore” to remove difficult stains. After these two cleaning, Bryco will dissemble the Peristyle and each piece will undergo detailed cleaning before being crated and stored. This portion is estimated to take about three weeks to complete weather permitting. A fence has been erected around the area to provide protection.
The next phase will involve Spann Concrete doing the demolition of the existing foundation and then building a new engineered foundation. The new foundation will include all the electrical amenities that will make the Peristyle more usable for the Community special events. This phase is estimated to take about 5 weeks, but this time line is contingent on the weather.
The last phase will be the reassembly and repair to the stone. This is also done by Bryco and should take around 6 weeks. The total time line is 14 weeks and this puts the tentative completion date around mid-May.
City of Paris would like to thank the Leadership Lamar Class of 2009-2010 for their vision in historic restoration, many volunteer hours, energy and effort that went into the fund raising for the Peristyle restoration project in Historic Bywaters Park.
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