‘Heart Month’ Feature is Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs
Persons who have suffered a heart condition and been treated for it at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs already sing the praises of the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department. These patients have found that 90% of all pulmonary-related procedures can be administered right here in Sulphur Springs, with Tyler facilities available to handle the rest. Sharon Hill and Anita Beasley assist cardiac survivors with rehab, or medically-supervised physical activity after a cardiac event. It has been shown that rehab can lower a person’s future risk of a heart attack, as well as help them live longer than a patient who does not participate in cardiac rehab. From the local support team, here’s some timely advice during February, Heart Month from the Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab.
THE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE Like all muscles, the heart becomes larger and stronger as a result of exercise. The heart is always looking to get stronger and depends on you doing aerobic exercise to achieve that. Aerobic exercise is any activity which allows your muscles to use oxygen. The number of blood cells in your blood increases so that the blood can more easily carry more oxygen to the heart and the rest of your body. The blood even moves more easily through the blood vessels. All of these things mean your body works more efficiently to keep you healthy.
APPROPRIATE REHAB CANDIDATES A physician referral is required to participate in a cardiac rehab program. Your cardiologist or primary care provider can best determine if and when you are ready to begin a program. You may be a candidate if you have experienced any of the following: recent heart attack, angioplasty or stent, heart bypass, transplant or valve surgery, chronic heart failure or chronic chest pain.
THE GOAL OF CARDIAC REHAB is to reduce your risk of future cardiac events and improve your health, providing you with the tools you need to lead a healthy and active lifestyle with the support of a team committed to your success. Social support is part of this process for outpatients. Find out more about the Phase II Outpatient Cardiac Program and Cardiac Wellness Program online at christustmfsulphursprings.com
Roberts Named Citizen of the Year at 93rd Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet; A Number of Awards Presented at “Love Makes the World Go Round” Event
Craig Roberts was named Citizen of the Year at the 93rd Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet. “Love Makes the World Go Round” was the theme for the Valentine’s Day event at the Civic Center. The annual event honors local citizens and Chamber of Commerce members who contribute to the quality of life in the county. A number of awards and recognitions were presented.
In naming Roberts Citizen of the Year, last year’s Citizen of the Year, Tim Kelty, noted the several sides to Roberts’ life. As a community member he served on the City of Sulphur Springs Planning and Zoning Board. As a member of the Rotary Club, he served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club. He has also served on the Chamber of Commerce board. Roberts currently serves on the Economic Development Board. He served for many years as Master of Ceremonies for several local events. His sense of humor is well-known. His spiritual side includes involvement in Walk to Emmaus and other activities that promote spiritual development. Roberts is Area President of Guaranty Bank and Trust. His family commitment is also well known. Kelty said his honesty is such that “Whatever he tells you, you can take it to the bank.”
Woman of the Year is Beverly Owens. Jimmie McIntyre of Beta Sigma Phi, made the presentation calling Owens selfless, involved, willing, compassionate, eager, fun hearted, and fruits of the spirit. She noted Owens love of other and commitment to God as a key to the nomination. Owens is a member of the Pilot Club, United Way, Relay for Life, Main Street Theatre, Shadow Ranch, Our Place, and has taught Sunday School at Trinity Harvest Church for over 15 years. She has also been helpful in developing a program for Autistic children. Owens works at Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs.
Caregiver of the Year was presented to two individuals. Joy Wilson, of the Pilot Club, made the presentation to Gladys Irene Howl, who has cared for her husband who has early onset Alzheimer’s. Using alternative medicine and other means, she has given continuous care even when side effects of some medications created even greater issues.
Charlotte Baxter of the Pilot Club recognized Bernie Beers. Beers has cared for his wife, Fran, for a number of years. He has also mentored students at Lamar School, ministered to senior citizen shut-ins and in care homes. Baxter said he is a reflection of Christ in life.
Billie Ruth Stanbridge, Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance, presented Lynda Hagar the Growth and Renewal Award for her energetic and enthusiastic support and involvement in almost every part of life in Sulphur Springs including Dairy Festival Board, chamber activities, Chair of Hopkins County Care Foundation, and as Mrs. Claus during the Christmas Season. A member of the Civic Center Board and Hopkins County Health Care Foundation, Hagar can be found constantly encouraging life in the county.
The United Way was presented the Community Pride Award by County Judge Robert Newsom. The award is given annually to an individual or organization that has exhibited generosity and service to the county community. Newsom said United Way impacts almost every man, woman, boy, or girl in the community. United Way is in its 64th year of existence and is vibrant and strong. The goal of the organization is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to advance the common good.
Educator of the Year is Harold Smithson. Smithson has been teaching 30 years in SSISD. He has taught small engine repair, auto trades, and construction. He sponsors Vocational and Industrial Club of America at the local high school. For the past four years, he has driven a school bus. He also transport the construction class to and from their job site while instructing on-site. Rusty Hardin presented the Award.
Keith Edwards was named Agriculturalist of the Year. Mark Sustaire, last year’s winner, made the presentation. Edwards began his career in agriculture working at age 16. He and his family operate a cow-calf starter operation. He is a charter member of NETBIO.
Hopkins County EMS was named Small Business of the Year. Paul Harvey, CEO of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs made the presentation. Harvey noted the active work of EMS in educating the public regarding emergency care and organizing several fund raising events that benefited all ages in the county community.
Large Business of the Year is Jay Hodge Chevrolet. With a number of obstacles that would hinder most companies, the Chevrolet dealership made the decision to come to Sulphur Springs. With everything in place over 5-years ago, a family tragedy delayed the move. Opening with portable offices in 2015, the dealership is now established and supporting almost every charitable activity in the county.
Special thanks were expressed to outgoing board members as new members were welcomed to the board by Chair-elect Danielle Berry. Birthright BBQ and catered the meal for the event.
Hearts of Life Animal Rescue Presents Jeremy for Adoption
Jeremy is still searching for his forever home! Jeremy is a 2 year old Shepherd/Pyrenees mix. He is very large and extremely affectionate! His favorite hobbies include eating, playing with his brothers and finding his way in to your lap. Jeremy has a very easy going personality and would make a great companion for almost anyone needing a large cuddle buddy.
His adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter and rabies shot. Please contact Hearts of Life Animal Rescue by phone at 903-439-5019, email [email protected], find us on Facebook at facebook.com/heartsoflife or on Petfinder.com!
Alexander Files for Place 4 on Sulphur Springs City Council
Reiko Alexander has filed for Place 4 on the Sulphur Springs City Council. Alexander challenges incumbent Freddie Taylor for the council seat. Alexander filed on the final day to file and assured that all three Places, Place 4, 5, and 6, will be on the ballot for the May 4, 2019 Municipal Election. Alexander sought the Hopkins County Clerk post in the November General Election but lost to Tracy Smith.
Incumbent Freddie Taylor filed to seek re-election to Place 4 on the Sulphur Springs City Council on January 31st. Taylor, local business leader, has served in various capacities on the council since he was sworn in June, 2004.
Jeff Sanderson, a Shift Captain for Hopkins County EMS, filed to seek election to Place 5 and challenges incumbent Emily Glass for the seat. Glass filed on the first day to file for the May 4, 2019 Municipal Election.
For Place 6 Doug Moore, who was appointed to the council until the May 4, 2019 Municipal Election, will face Landon Thornton, who has also filed for the seat.
Opportunity to file for Places 4, 5, and 6 continue through today, February 15, 2019.
Tira News for Feb 15th, 2019
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our appreciation to the North Hopkins Beta Club for their donations to the Tira Food Pantry. They had a “Pack the gym!” night, where NH basketball fans received free admission for wearing a red shirt and bringing a canned item.
Yvonne Weir reports, “Dustin, Natalie, and Maria spent last weekend with us. We had a good game of Canasta. On February 8th Wesley attended A Night to Shine at Brightstar Church. It is sponsored partially by Tim Tebow. Wesley loves to dance and many of his friends were there.” She adds, “On Saturday, we spend the night in Dallas. Dacy, Elise, and Eli visited us. We
ate at Outback, and then the kids swam. On Sunday, we went to Texas Skatium with Dustin, Natalie, and Maria. Wesley enjoyed rollerblading with Dustin.”
Joyce Dodd would like to remind everyone that the next Bible study, at the Tira Methodist Church, is at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19th . Everyone is welcome.
Chip and I were in Dallas on Saturday and Chip did some repairs for his sister, Linda Ellen Vaughn, that afternoon. Afterward, we all went to Islamorada Fish Company, inside Bass Pro Shop, for a delicious meal.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected]
What to Expect from the 4-H Program By Mario Villarino
I often get asked when new families join 4-H what to expect of the program. It is usually the word of 4-Hers and their families that provides the answer correctly. For many, it is the livestock projects, for others the very many other activities in 4-H.
According to Marty Vahlenkamp (www. https://texasyouthlivestock.com) the answer for sure it is different for every 4-H’er depending on their goals and personal situation. The typical answer of it is that livestock projects build character, create discipline, teaches youth about agriculture, teaches sportsmanship, etc., etc.
While all of that is true and right on point, I am not sure that it does justice to the core of what the 4-H Livestock Project can and does do for our youth. To some, the greatest values of the 4-H Livestock Program is that it allows 4-H’ers the opportunity to gain confidence in themselves by caring for something that is 100% dependent on them. I remember a young 4-H’er, Vahlenkamp said- who was uncomfortable getting in a pen with the heifer that was to be his show heifer that year, but he had to because without him the heifer could not eat or drink and could not have a clean place to live. Over time, he gained the confidence he needed to complete the project.
While this 4-H’er learned how to show cattle, the important life lesson is the self-worth and confidence he gained that will help him get through tough spots in his life and challenges that lie ahead. The other major value in the 4-H Livestock Project can be said in one word “Family”. When it is done right there is no better activity that promotes family time and the opportunity for a family to work side by side on a common goal.
As surveys and reports keep pointing out the fact that families spend less time together, families that participate in 4-H Livestock Projects together have the opportunity to spend time together. Finally, as the project year comes to an end and exhibitors put their animal on the truck, they get to help celebrate success and also comfort the loss of a friend, just one more life lesson that will stick with our 4-H’ers throughout their life.
As we continue raising projects for livestock shows, Hopkins County celebrates our NETLA Junior Livestock Show February 21-22-23 at the Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. During the show, many 4-H and FFA exhibitors compete for an opportunity to auction their projects at the Sale of Champions, Saturday February 23, 2019. For more information on the NETLA Junior Livestock Show call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443.
Going Green By Johanna Hicks
When you hear the words “going green,” your thoughts probably turn to water conservation, energy conservation, using environmentally-safe cleaning products, and so on. However, the focus of this column is totally different. I’m talking about salad greens – spinach, in particular.
Spinach, best grown in mild climates with an abundance of fertile, high quality soil and water, put Crystal City, Texas on the map in 1917. This southern area of Texas is best known as the Wintergarden region and is recognized by farmers for its long growing seasons. From 1930-1950, the Wintergarden region experienced a “spinach boom,” making Texas the top spinach producing state in the US. Over time, consumer demands influenced production in Texas, leading to varieties such as “baby” and “teen” flat-leaf spinach, according to Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulturist. From 2006-2016, Texas experienced a 29% increase in spinach production, jumping from 32,025 tons of spinach produced to 41,215.
Spinach is a versatile food. It can be eaten raw as a salad or in combination with other salad greens. It can be cooked by itself as a side dish, or used in a casserole, soups, pastas and dips. Other than being a popular commodity in Texas, spinach has many nutritional benefits, including its high vitamin and mineral counts, caloric density, and its contributions to heart health. Nutritional facts for 100g (or 3 ⅓ cups) of spinach:
· 2.86g of protein
· 3.63g of carbs
· 0.39g of fat
· 28.1mg of Vitamin C
· 501 IU of Vitamin A
· 416 IU of Vitamin K
· 144 mcg of Folate
And for all that goodness, it’s very low in calories – one cup of spinach equates to a total of 6 calories, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
AgriLife Extension’s Dinner Tonight has developed a plethora of recipes to incorporate spinach into your meals as a main ingredient, including Chicken and Spinach Lasagna, Spinach Quiche, Black bean and Spinach Quesadillas, and Spinach Pasta Toss. To find more nutritious spinach recipes, visit https://dinnertonight.tamu.edu and be sure to try out the recipe in today’s side bar!
Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes
Approximately 12% of Hopkins County residents have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is here to help understand how to control this disease! “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” is a 5-lesson series targeted toward individuals with type 2 diabetes, but is also beneficial for those with type 1 (insulin-dependent). Here are the details. Be sure to contact our office if you would like to participate:
- When: Mondays and Thursdays, March 11, 14, 18, 21, and 25
- Where: Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs
- Time: 6:00 p.m. (will also offer a 1:30 session if enough interest)
- Cost: $25 covers 3-ring binder with materials, refreshments, door prizes, incentive items (if the cost is a burden, let us know – we have scholarships available)
- Topics: Getting Started – How Food Affects Your Blood Glucose/ recommended Blood Glucose Ranges; Checking Your Blood Glucose/Recognizing Carbohydrate Foods; Beyond Diet, Improving Blood Glucose with Physical Activity; Diabetes Medications; and Celebrating Diabetes Control While Avoiding Complications
- Call 903-885-3443 to reserve a seat. We’ll need name, address and phone number to send you the registration form (or you may drop by the Extension Office in advance)
Don’t let your diabetes control you – you can control your diabetes!
Closing Thought
Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence – Abigail Adams
Recipe of the Week
Spinach Lasagna
Ingredients:
4 teaspoons olive oil – divided
8-ounce can tomato sauce
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
10-ounce package fresh spinach, washed, stemmed, and chopped
16-ounce can diced tomatoes
½ teaspoon oregano
¼ cup chopped onions
8 ounces uncooked lasagna noodles
12 ounces 1% fat cottage cheese (or 12 ounces reduced-fat ricotta cheese)
8 ounces shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375ᵒF.
- Lightly coat 9 X 12 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In large saucepan, sauté garlic in 2 teaspoons olive oil for 1 minutes. Add tomato sauce, tomatoes, pepper and oregano. Simmer gently over low heat, uncovered while preparing other ingredients.
- In large skillet over low heat, sauté onions in remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, stirring constantly until transparent but not brown. Add chopped spinach, stirring constantly to separate and heat the spinach.
- Layer uncooked lasagna noodles, sauce, spinach mixture, cottage and mozzarella in baking dish. Repeat, using all ingredients, ending with a layer of sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top.
- Tightly cover with foil and bake for 1 hour, or until noodles are cooked.
Nutrients per serving (makes 8 servings):
Calories – 263; carbohydrate – 26 g; dietary fiber – 3 g; protein – 19 g; sodium – 508 mg
Lady Cats Softball Team Opens Season With Three Wins in SS Tournament Thursday; Games Friday and Saturday at Lady Cat Park
Lady Cats Softball 16, Commerce 0
Lady Cats’ softball pitcher Bailey Haggerty gave up only one hit over 4 innings and struck out 8 as the Lady Cats pounded out 17 hits in a 16-0 victory over Commerce Thursday in the Lady Cats first game of the Sulphur Springs Varsity Softball Tournament at Lady Cat Park. Kelsey Wallace was 4 for 4 with 2 runs scored, 6 runs batted in and had a grand slam home run and a double. Sadie Stroud was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Sierra Smith and Landri Bell also had 2 hits each. The Lady Cats scored 5 runs in the first, 5 more in the second and 6 runs in the third.
Lady Cats Softball 8, Canton 0
The Lady Cats’ softball team erupted for 7 runs in the first inning on their way to an 8-0 win over Canton in their second game Thursday in the Sulphur Springs Varsity Softball Tournament at Lady Cat Park. Lady Cats pitchers Addison Caddell and Tessa Holt combined to throw a 2 hit shutout over 4 innings. The Lady Cats had 9 hits. In the Lady Cats first, setting the table with singles were Kelsey Wallace and Alli Fite. Getting RBI singles were Brinkley Driver, Landri Bell, Nylah Lindley, Maddie Millsap, Abbi Baier and Alli Fite, Sadie Stroud drew a walk and Kelsey Wallace got a walk that forced in a run. The Lady Cats scored one more run in the second on a Sierra Smith triple and Landri Bell RBI single.
Lady Cats Softball 9, Mount Vernon 0
Lady Cats pitcher Bailey Haggerty was credited with a no hitter and had 6 strikeouts in a 4 and a half inning 9-0 win over Mount Vernon in the Lady Cats third game on day one of the Sulphur Springs Varsity Softball Tournament Thursday at Lady Cat Park. A ball hit off of Haggerty in the top of the fourth was ruled an error by the Lady Cats official scorer. The Lady Cats continued to hit the ball well getting 10 hits in the game. 10 different Lady Cats had a hit. Kelsey Wallace hit her second home run for the day, this one a three-run shot. Brinkley Driver had a double. Landri Bell drove home 2 runs in the first inning with a single. Sadie Stroud, Sierra Smith and Maddie Millsap also had one RBI.
The Lady Cats, now 3-0 for the season, play Peaster Friday at 10 a.m. at Lady Cat Park on day two of the three-day Sulphur Springs Varsity Softball Tournament.
