March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
New to the CHRISTUS Sulphur Springs family is Nurse Practitioner Chimdi Mfebe, now on staff in Dr. Mena Milad’s office of Gastroenterology. A delight to talk with, Chimdi’s passion for her work and patients was evident during her KSST Good Morning Show interview on Friday March 6, 2020. She has been a nurse for eleven years, having obtained a Master’s degree at Chamberlain University College of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois. After having studied a few different specialties including Neurology, the study of the nervous system, and Nephrology, which concerns liver function, she found she had a passion for the field of Gastroenterology. Chimdi is already seeing and treating a number of patients within Dr. Milad’s practice.
“March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and especially right now, we are spreading the word that you can promote a healthy digestive tract, keep your colon healthy and live longer, too, by adopting a low-fat diet and regular exercise. A colonoscopy, or colon screening, can help your doctor rule out disease and monitor other health issues, as well as suggest a treatment plan if disease is present. Also, there are new treatments for Hepatitis C, so patients who have had this condition need to see their doctor to find out more about the new 8 to12-week treatment cycle, which can be prescribed to make possible a 100% cure of HepC with the daily pill treatment”, stated Chimdi. “I am excited to meet patients at our clinic, and be part of the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs team of care providers!”
Cancelled: 55 Plus Health Fair, Hot Dog Lunch April 7
Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, has posted these cancellations of community events.
Chamber Connection – March 19, 2020
We have woken up this morning continuing to live in strange, strange times. The truth is we are walking in uncharted waters, and things are going to continue to change by the hour. I want you to know that we understand you are sitting at your business wondering what to do, and quite honestly, might be pushing the pause button on fear because you know there’s just no room for it right now. You are making plans and being adaptable, and that is the right thing!
Our motto at the Chamber is Keep Moving Forward. In that spirit, I would like to ask a favor of you. We MUST shop local right now. We must eat local, shop local, LIVE local! Our small businesses NEED us, and we NEED them, too! Each time that you shop locally, please post a picture on Facebook and use the hashtag #loveourtownSS. Let’s begin a wave of promotion that is a light for all to see.
It seems dark outside, uncertain for sure. Hopkins County is known for how we treat each other in hard times. This, my friends, is one of them. Please be kind. Please be supportive. Love your neighbor. Check on your friends. Ask your kids if they are afraid. Be present. We don’t know how long this will last, so we will just take things one step at a time. We are here for you.
I reached out to our Chamber members early in the week to ask what modifications they have made to their businesses in an effort to be more available and helpful. The truth is, this information is changing by the hour. My plan was to publish a list detailing all information that I have received, but with it changing so fast, it will be different by the time you read this. Here is some concrete information that we have.
Restaurants
Most restaurants have moved to curbside service and some are even offering home delivery. Just call ahead and visit with your favorite restaurant, and they will bring your food out to you. You can also visit “Takeout Together” on Facebook and Instagram. This is a place where restaurants are publishing current information and items they are offering.
Shopping
Most clothing stores are offering online shopping, curbside pickup, and even doorstep delivery. Please, please don’t forget about your favorite place to shop during this time. They are all fearful and need your help!
Groceries
Our grocery have changed their hours of operation. They are closing at nigh to disinfect and re-stock shelves. They are also limiting quantities of items that you can purchase. Hopefully, this will help distribute goods in a more effective manner.
Pharmacies
Our pharmacies are open. Some have closed their lobbies but can be reached through the drive through or curbside service.
Museums
All museums are closed to the public. Most of them still have staffers and can be reached by phone. Main St. Theatre is also closed.
Library, Senior Citizen Center
Closed indefinitely. Meal-A-Day is still making daily deliveries.
Hotels
All of our hotels are open for business and have increased their cleaning protocols.
Energy Companies
Our energy companies have closed their lobbies to visitors but can be reached by phone if needed.
Hospital
CHRISTUS has published these followable guidelines…
- Visitors must be 18 years or older.
- Visitation hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- An essential caregiver may be allowed to remain overnight with approval from the Charge Nurse.
- Visitors must complete the Visitor Screening Tool.
- Visitors must have a normal temperature.
- Patients and/or families should designate a point-person to communicate within the family about the patient’s status so as not to overwhelm our phone system.
- CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital Security and Hospital Associates may limit patient visitation to protect our patients, physicians, and/or associates.
Hospital Entrances:
- Main Lobby Entrance will be open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. with clinical staff posted
- Emergency Department Entrance will be open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week with clinical staff posted
School districts in Hopkins County
All school districts in Hopkins County are accessing their situation by the day. Plans for upcoming weeks will be announced by the end of the week.
SSISD: FREE MEALS PROVIDED BY SSISD
- Beginning Tuesday, March 17th, SSISD Food Services will be providing FREE meals for ALL SSISD students AND any children who are between the ages of 1 – 18. Meals will be available for pick-up each Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 11 a.m. until further notices. Students will be able to pick up one breakfast and one lunch meal at this time. Students do not have to attend any one of these campuses to participate. Pick-up areas will be curbside grab-and-go and will be held at the following locations across Sulphur Springs:
- SSES (Lee Street bus lane)
- Bowie (Mockingbird Lane student drop off/pick up lane)
- Bush (South bus lane circle to awning), and
- Douglass (Calvert Street awning).
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, Civic Center
Both are open at this time with limited staff
Chamber of Commerce
We unfortunately are postponing our Book Club opening and the Lunch + Learn scheduled for March 27. These will be rescheduled.
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for March 19, S&S Professional Drafting Services.
Emory Man Arrested In Hopkins County On Controlled Substance Charge
A 38-year-old Emory man allegedly admitted to using illegal substances and having drug paraphernalia, which were then found during a vehicle search Tuesday afternoon, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney was stationary on the side of State Highway 19 when he first noticed a Chevrolet Impala backfire as it passed his patrol vehicle. Chaney took action to catch up to the car. As he did, the red car turned onto County Road 1116, then into the driveway for the Precinct 1 barn and continued onto the property, the deputy alleged in arrest reports.
Chaney reportedly continued on CR 1116 until he found a driveway to turn around in, then headed back toward SH 19 south. He reported seeing the car traveling north on SH 19, just north of CR 1116. Chaney said he continued north as well. As he got closer to the car, he noted the driver turned into a driveway on the east side of the road. Chaney said he continued north, then turned around on CR 1174. At the intersection of CR 1174 and SH 19, he no longer saw the car. After turning south, he noticed red car at FM 1567 west, where it turned, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
Chaney reported a computer check using the car’s license plate showed no insurance for the vehicle. Chaney initiated a traffic stop based on the unconfirmed insurance and his suspicion that the driver’s actions were an effort to potentially cover criminal behavior, the deputy noted in arrest reports. The car reportedly stopped on FM 1567 west at FM 3389.
The deputy had the male and female occupants exit the car and, after obtaining consent, patted the 38-year-old man down, but found no contraband on him, according to arrest reports. When asked if there was any contraband in the car, the man identified in arrest reports as John Scott Thompson II allegedly admitted there was a bag of syringes on the front seat under the center console and that he actively uses illegal substances, according to arrest reports.
HCSO Deputy Mike Cleveland and Sgt. Shea Shaw arrived. Cleveland reportedly remained with the people that’d been in the car while Shaw and Chaney conducted a probable cause search of it.
Deputies allegedly located not only the bag of syringes but also other drug paraphernalia with a residue suspected to be methamphetamine on them. Both Thompson and the female passenger were reportedly placed into handcuffs while deputies continued their search of the Impala. A clear baggy inside of a satchel allegedly contained a white, crystal-like substance the deputies suspected was methamphetamine.
When deputies asked who the satchel and suspected methamphetamine belonged to, Thompson allegedly claimed both, resulting in Thompson’s arrest at 4:39 p.m. March 17. The female passenger was released; Shaw gave her a courtesy transport to a Sulphur Springs business, according to arrest reports.
Shaw and Cleveland inventoried the car, and, after it was towed, transported Thompson to Hopkins County jail. The suspected methamphetamine weighed 0.4 gram, including packaging, and tested positive for methamphetamine on a field test, resulting in Thompson being booked into jail for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
Thompson was released from Hopkins County jail Wednesday. His bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000 according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
NHISD Meal Program Rolled Out; Students Can Still Get On List To Receive School Meals
Elementary Principal Engages Students With Daily Book Read, Challenge
North Hopkins ISD rolled out the meal program for students today.
NHISD teachers and staff began contacting students’ homes March 16 to try to assess their nutritional needs and instructional capabilities. The information was used for meal preparation and will be utilized for instructional plans in the near future.
“Our team worked hard to contact everyone and lists were double checked,” NHISD official reported.
Meal deliveries for all students who have confirmed with a teacher or campus team member their desire to have this nutritional service are being made between 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Those who have confirmed for pick up may do so behind the cafeteria at 10:15 a.m.
If any NHISD students’ parents/guardians were not contacted, and they would like to receive meals, they are asked to send NHISD officials an email at: [email protected].
And, elementary students are encouraged to enjoy the book read by Principal Kodi Wright and her challenge to them. Those who missed the first three can catch up on the NHISD Facebook page, where they are posted each afternoon.
SSISD Suspends Normal Operations Through April 10
Trustees Pass Resolution Approving Wage Payments For SSISD Employees During Emergency Closure
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees Wednesday evening made an important decision for their employees and announced a decision regarding regular school operations as well.
The school board “approved a resolution for wage payments for SSISD employees during emergency school closing for the period of closure associated with the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Following the meeting, SSISD officials reported the district will also “extend the suspension of normal district operations through Friday, April, 10 in an effort to support our nation’s need to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. We are coordinating with other school districts in the county and will announce any decisions on whether there is a need to extend suspension further by April 9.”
Earlier today, SSISD assured that “students will not have to retake classes or lose any credit during the time we are out of school. Our staff is currently working on solutions for teachers and students to stay in contact and work while we are away from our campuses. We plan on rolling out our academic plan on Monday.”
Additional information will be provided as it become available regarding that plan, school officials reported.
Those who have questions related to the impact of COVID-19 to the SSISD community may submit them online to school staff through the link on their website.
Uncharted Territory: Our Civic Leaders Make A Tough Decision
March 18th, 2020 By: Chad Young
KSST applauds our civic leaders for the unprecedented move to place restrictions on “social gatherings” inside Hopkins County. The tough decision rested on our County Judge, Robert Newsom, who issued the declaration on March 18th, limiting social gatherings to 10. Newsom, as the most senior official in our county, issued the declaration after consulting with city, county, state and emergency management officials. There is no doubt that it was an agonizing decision for all of those officials involved, but will prove to be the best decision to protect the health of all of our citizens. As the declaration, in it’s original form, lasts only a week it most certainly will be extended as more information comes in, day by day.
So much is not known about Coronavirus (COVID-19), but the information that is known is very scary. As I write this, the Italian government, confirmed over 4,200 new cases and 475 new deaths linked to this virus in the last 24 hours. The small country of Italy, which is half the land area of Texas, has only 60 million population, which is less than one-fifth the population of the United States. Also in the last 24 hours, the United States added over 2,400 new confirmed cases and 41 new deaths. The unfortunate news is that we are several weeks behind Italy in testing availablity, and community spread. All of these numbers are certain to go up, and as we see the rest of our state, nation, and the entire world screeching to a halt, we would be naive to think that it won’t happen here.
So, painful as it may be, and certainly with an abundance of caution, our civic leaders make the tough decision to limit people getting together. Several hours after they do, Dallas County mandates the same limits on social gatherings. If we follow their example or they follow ours, it is only smart for us to put the health of our citizens above all else. Yes, the economic impact will be devastating, in fact it already has been. Grocery stores are selling out of all essential products as fast as they can stock them, but other retailers and restaurants are feeling the pain of our citizens already limiting their activities in public. Hopefully this will all end sooner rather than later, but no matter how long it takes, our community has to band together in different ways. We must find new ways to support our small businesses, to help them weather the storm. If you can order delivery or curbside pick-up from your favorite restaurant, we encourage you to do so, and we encourage you to find any way to support the other small businesses that are the backbone of our community. Whether clothing stores, flower shops, or other small retailers, they all need help. We all need to do what we can to help in this trying time, for this step and the next one, whatever it may be.
This big step imposed by our civic and county leaders is not only what everyone else in the world is coming to realize is what’s best for their communities, it’s what’s best for OUR community.
Hopkins County Issues Emergency Declaration For Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 18th, 2020
Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge, issues an emergency declaration for the citizens of Hopkins County. This Declaration issues a State Of Disaster for the county. This will last for seven days unless extended, as it will be evaluated by county commissioners as soon as Monday, March 23rd. Events in Hopkins County will now be limited to have no more than 10 people in a social gathering. This undoubtedly will affect a large number of events in Hopkins County. KSST News will continue to update this page as we get more information.
Dining rooms in restaurants are not restricted at this time, unless they have larger parties considered “social gatherings”. Restaurants may utilize their dining rooms with no tables seated for more than ten and all occupied tables more than six to ten feet apart. As many restaurants go to curbside pick-up and delivery, most have already made these arrangements.
School Board, county meetings, and city meetings can still go on as they are not considered “social gatherings” Plans are being developed to help attendees of these meetings achieve social distancing. All Civic Center events for the next two weeks are cancelled according to Civic Center general manager, Lonnie Fox. Future events beyond that will be evaluated weekly as the health scare continues.
Although the emergency declaration comes from the County Judge, input was received from city, county, state, and emergency officals. Jason Ricketson spoke as to the reasoning of putting this plan in place. He said, “As we see the numbers of positive test results rise in other parts of the state, we think distancing is important as to not overwhelm our local medical resources.” Again, no positive tests for coronavirus has been returned from any patient in Hopkins County. Ricketson also stressed the importance of the younger generation to heed these warning to protect the older generations.
This will affect all churches but retail stores will be able to limit their total customers as they see fit. Social distancing between customers should be offered at these establishments, but the total amount of customers at one time will be controlled by the each individual store.
Judge Newsom ugred citizens to band together to get through this crisis.
Continue to refresh this story for the latest information.
Signs Are Up For Takeout Together – Curbside Pick Up From Sulphur Springs Restaurants
The launch of “Takeout Together” was announced Tuesday. This will allow local restaurants in Sulphur Springs to continue to serve patrons curbside until the coronavirus concern has passed.
“We will be designating certain parking spaces, specifically downtown where they have shared parking, for that purpose and no other purpose. So people can show up, the restaurant staff will bring their food and they can take off,” City Manager Marc Maxwell said Tuesday.
A number of local food establishments are already offering curbside pick up. Additional information, including a list or restaurants participating, and a video are expected to be posted by end of week about it social media sites.
Maxwell said for people to start watching for the Takeout Together signs. This effort will help curtail potential spread of germs and viruses and help local businesses stay open. Many, he said, are already impacted by the measures being taken in communities across the country in an effort to reduce potential spread of COVID-19.
While more people are remaining in their homes as recommended, that means less business for local restaurants and businesses. This will allow patrons to continue supporting local businesses while still taking precautions, according to the city manager. Look for Takeout Together on Facebook for information about your favorite restaurant or call for information.
So far, Maxwell said, no confirmed cases have been recorded in Sulphur Springs, but that could change as the number of people across the state confirmed to have the virus increases.
The City of Sulphur Springs did order the Senior Citizens Center closed starting March 16, and Sulphur Springs Public Library will close tonight at 6 p.m. They will remain closed indefinitely, until the coronoavirus concern has passed.
Other city offices and operations remain open. City officials are encouraging those who can to pay their water bills online as a precaution for their health as well as city staff. They understand some are unable to do so. Thus, city offices remain open for people to pay water bills and municipal court tickets. All trials in the municipal court have been postponed until further notice, however.
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson said city staff like other officials continue to monitor the situation regarding COVID-19 and are taking appropriate precautions where possible. Emergency personnel have been equipped with protective gear for their safety while responding to calls in the field.
SSISD Tax Office Closed; Other Payment Options Available
Sulphur Springs ISD Tax Office is closed at this time due to the COVID-19 concerns. However, there are other options for taxpayers who need to make a payment. See the SSISD post below:
