Poverty in Hopkins County: Health, Food, Housing, Programs
By Jim Rogers
With a number of local arrest reports showing “homeless” and other visually evident signs of poverty’s affect, KSST News has begun an examination of the local poverty rate and its impact in Hopkins County and the communities and cities that comprise the county. Although the following article, the first of several, is not an exhaustive view of poverty, it does cover information that should cause local residents to be concerned for their neighbors and encourage one to become an advocate for better jobs and housing.
Overview
Hopkins County’s poverty rate is 19.5%. In a county with a population of 35,844, a median age of 39.2, a median household income of $45,748, and where the population is in slow growth, there are certain concerns that become apparent. The poverty rate in the county places almost 7,000 people below the poverty line and puts the county at a percentage higher than the 14% national average. In the county, 24% of children are living in poverty. However, the largest city, Sulphur Springs, faces an even greater percentage of poverty. The city’s poverty rate is 26.4% among the 15,896 people.
Health Care
Poverty affects health. In Hopkins County, 21% of those under 65-years of age are uninsured. In a county where 18% of adults report being in fair or poor health, 32% of adults are obese, and 31% of adults are physically inactive, health costs are a constant drain on family budgets. These county numbers exceed both state and national figures. Although the percentage of smokers in Hopkins County, 17%, is on par with the national percentage, the county exceeds the Texas percentage of 14%. Hopkins County Agri-Life Extension has designated health concerns as a primary focus for programming during their next fiscal year.
Food
Food is also an issue. According to Feeding America, 6,540 or 18% of the people in Hopkins County are food insecure. In Sulphur Springs Public Schools, all students below third grade are receiving free breakfast and lunch at school. Students in the remaining grades may be eligible for free meals and families may apply if they meet specific criteria. Other schools in Hopkins County reflect a similar approach.
Several programs provide meals in Hopkins County. Meal-a-Day, operated in and through the Senior Center, Dinner Bell, and a newly opened program sponsored by Color Blind Ministries in Como are among sources for nutrition. At First Baptist’s ROC, meals are available to those who walk in during operating hours. On average, FBC gives out 150 to 200 meals per week to those who are hungry and in need. Toward the end of the month that number grows to 300-400 meals per week. The meal provided by the ROC is a sandwich, chips, cookies and anything else that is donated. Volunteers at the ROC prepare the meals.
Hopkins County Community Chest and the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry provide food for county residents. Hopkins County now has over 250 senior citizens receiving individually an additional 27 pounds of food each month.
Other services also assist in filling the food need (We will note those in later articles).
One source that provides food to various organizations that feed the hungry in a 13-county service area, which includes Hopkins County, is the North Texas Food Bank. The NTFB is a hunger relief organization that has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has a proven record of accomplishment. Focused on providing nutritious food, the program has provided access to more than 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors, and families in their service area. In the 13-county service area, one of every six people is served. That is over 800,000 persons served due to hunger. The annual household income of 95% of the households served by NTFB is $30,000 or less. Among those served, 60% of the client households report unpaid medical bills and one in three client households are affected by diabetes.
Housing
Housing for the homeless and those at or below the poverty line also remains a local problem. There is some low rent or rent subsidized housing units in the City of Sulphur Springs and the County but there are also those who move into unoccupied houses or buildings and establish a tentative residence. Community Chest assists with utility payments or establishing utility service. However, when there is not utility service available to the building or the individual is what is commonly called a “squatter”, there is no availability of funding.
According to Community Chest Executive Director Judy Ann Moore, there are those who have sought assistance from the organization that are living in their vehicle. Those living in their car or other vehicle are not just single individuals or a couple. There are families that are attempting to be accommodated in their car.
Programs
The people of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County rally for programs that seek to meet needs. Recent reaction to Lil’ 4s and to the needs of children and adults undergoing care for cancer or rare diseases are just two examples of compassion. However, there are needs that continue to depend on the development of programs in education, nutrition, and job skills that should also find the attention of those who seek to provide a better-than-subsistence quality of life for local residents.
Free “Whole Pie” Event Will Educate, Inform About Medicare Choices and Benefits
Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is getting the word out about a fun way to learn more about the important facts and features of Medicare. The non-biased Medicare Seminar is set for Monday September 24 at 1pm at the Sr’s Center, 150 MLK Drive. Anyone can attend, but if you want to receive a free pie, you must register before September 20 by calling 903-571-6750.
Dinner Bell Menu For September 12, 2018
DINNER BELL MENU
September 12, 2018
Menu:
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Pear and Feta Salad with Poppy Seedless Dressing
Buttered French Bread
Carrot Cake
Pear and Gelatin Dessert (the no added sugar dessert)
We have the ice in the cups and the tea/water ready to pour. Relax, get out of the heat, and enjoy some good company at The Dinner Bell.
Served Wednesdays at 11:45 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Delorean Biopic “Driven” Closes 2018 Venice Film Festival
By Chad Young
Venice, Italy-Closing the Venice Film Festival is the John Delorean biopic “Driven” starring Lee Pace as DeLorean and Jason Sudeikis as Jim Hoffman, an FBI informant that is the undoing of John DeLorean’s career. Throughout the movie, you get the feeling that Delorean himself is his own undoing through his narcissistic and flamboyant demeanor that catapulted him to his meteoric rise through GM in the 60’s and 70’s, but this tale written by Colin Bateman only shows the view from Jim Hoffman, drug dealer turned informant, who somehow lures Delorean into a drug deal.
Lee Pace’s performance as John DeLorean is superb, as a self-assured, automotive genius that enjoys the high life and partying with celebrities. Pace certainly became the character he was portraying. But, Jason Sudeikis’ is really the star of the film as the FBI informant, as the entire story is told from his perspective. His performance as the drug dealer, turned informant, turned DeLorean friend, uses a lot of dramatic license, as the actual person entered witness protection many years ago. Sudeikis’ wit and quick thinking comes through in his performance which no doubt had the screenplay writers on their toes. Although not truly a straight dramatic role for Sudeikis, he pulls off his tongue-in-cheek performance quite convincingly. The disappointing part is the absence of DeLorean’s accomplishments through his career. In the movie, the characters briefly mention that DeLorean is the creator of the Pontiac GTO, but his claims to fame extend far beyond that. DeLorean was the youngest chief of any GM division, in this case Pontiac, in 1965, at the age of 40. While working at Pontiac, he developed a new model by taking a mid-sized Pontiac Tempest and installing a 389 cu in (6.4 L) V8. The Pontiac GTO was born and it was this young vision that many believe set him on course to create the beginning of the muscle car craze. He also developed the Pontiac Firebird. DeLorean moved on to head Chevrolet in 1969 and then abruptly quit in 1973.
Red carpet at Venice Film Festival premier of ‘Driven’ starring Jason Sudeikis.
The movie “Driven” directed by Nick Hamm picks up long after John DeLorean has left Chevrolet and is attempting to start his own car company. In reality, this vision to reality story took much longer, as he was met with resistance on factory space, engine suppliers, etc. He eventually ended up employing 2,000 people in Northern Ireland to build the car, and Renault was supplying the engines. Taking until 1981 to deliver his first car, DeLorean’s company was in financial trouble. In the end, although still a wealthy man, John DeLorean faced financial difficulties with his company and was lured into a scheme by Jim Hoffman to traffic cocaine for a quick profit, to save the faltering company. Although, most car aficionados will remember seeing the grainy black and white video shown on major news channels at the time, from the FBI sting operation, I doubt most of the actors in the film are old enough to remember. It was certainly a fall from grace as then John DeLorean was arrested, tried in federal court, and although acquitted, his car company went into bankruptcy and he would never be relevant in the car industry again.
On a side note for car fans, I found some of the attention to detail in a car movie about a car guy that was also disappointing. Although, the characters hair and wild outfits were true to the late 70’s and early 80’s times, I noticed several cars in the film with 3rd brake lights, which became mandatory in the US in 1986. Since the majority of the film occurred in the years leading up to 1982, I found it lazy that they used a bunch of cars from the late 80’s instead of period correct cars, which should have been easy to find. Although a small detail to most, it’s this attention to detail that makes me wonder if maybe they have been loose on other “facts” about the story as well.
Alfonso Cuaron showing off his Golden Lion for Best Picture at Venice Film Festival
In the end, it was very exciting to be at the Venice Film Festival and see a movie premiere and watch the actors walk the red carpet. Rhonda even met the gentleman that is the Director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, a virtual rock star in local circles. We also were outside on the red carpet when Alfonso Cuaron, director of the film “Roma” emerged carrying his Golden Lion award for Best Picture from the competition. Although not the Oscars, this competition is the oldest film festival in the world, and although a little hard to get to as we had to take two boats to reach the island where it is held, the people could not have been more congenial. We bought “public” tickets to the premiere the day before the premiere, and sat in the theater as the actors and directors from the film sat behind us as we watched their film. It was a very exciting atmosphere, with people from all over the world coming together for the love of film.
Alberto Barbera the Director of the Venice Film Festival
Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court Agenda for September 10, 2018
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING TIME: 9:00 A.M. DATE: Monday, September 10, 2018
PLACE: In The Commissioners’ Courtroom On The First Floor Of The Hopkins County Courthouse Located At 118 Church St., Sulphur Springs, TX. I. Invocation
II. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag
A. AMERICAN FLAG:
B. TEXAS FLAG: “Honor The Texas Flag; I Pledge Allegiance To Thee, Texas, One State Under God, One And Indivisible.”
The Following Items Will Be Considered By Commissioners’ Court For Discussion And/Or Action: The Court May Go Into Executive Session To Discuss Legal And/Or Personnel Matters. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
1) The Court To Declare A Quorum
2) Consent Agenda. i) Approve Previous Meeting Minutes. a) No Minutes.
3) The Court To Consider Citizens Comments.
4) Other County Business.
i) The Court To Consider Approving A Burn Ban For Hopkins County.
ii) The Court To Hold A Public Hearing In Accordance With Local Government Code Sec. 118.01(e) and Sec. 118.025 On The Plan For Funding The Preservation And Restoration Of The County Clerk’s Records Archive.
iii) The Court To Consider Approving The Plan For Funding The Preservation And Restoration Of The County Clerk’s Records Archive And Adopting Into The 2019 Budget.
iv) The Court To Conduct A Public Hearing To Consider A Plan For The District Clerk’s Technology Fund, Senate Bill 1685, Government Code 51.305 And 51.317 To Fund The Preservation And Restoration Of The District Clerk’s Records.
v) The Court To Consider Approving The Plan For Funding The Preservation And Restoration Of The District Clerk’s Records Archive And Adopting Into The 2019 Budget.
vi) The Court To Consider Adopting The 2018 Property Tax Rate.
vii) The Court To Hold A Public Hearing On The Proposed 2019 Budget.
viii) The Court To Consider Adopting The Budget For FY 2019.
ix) The Court To Consider Accepting The Bids For Three New 2018-2019 Police Service SUVs For Hopkins County.
x) The Court To Consider Approving The 2019 Sheriff’s And Constables Fees As Required Under Local Government Code Section 188.131.
xi) To Court To Consider Approving An Official Bond For Teresa Palmer, Chief Deputy For The Tax Assessor-Collector And An Amendment/Rider To Change The Name Of The Current Tax Assessor-Collector, Debbie Jenkins Mitchell.
5) The Court To Consider Approving Budget Amendments And Line Item Transfers.
6) The Court Will Consider And Act On Payment Of Bills, Revenues And Expenses, Payroll And Financial Statements.
7) The Court To Consider Approving Grants.
8) The Court To Consider Accepting Donations.
9) The Court To Consider Contracts: The Court To Consider And Approve The Interlocal Contract Between The Department of Information Resources And Hopkins County Relating To The Use Of The DIR Shared Services Master Service Agreements.
10) The Court Will Consider And Act On Personnel Matters.
11) The Court To Consider Disposal Of Asset Request.
12) The Court To Approve Resolutions And Proclamations.
13) The Court To Adjourn.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board Agenda September 10, 2018
AGENDA
REGULAR BOARD MEETING SULPHUR SPRINGS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 6:00 PM
I. CALL TO ORDER: Invocation Pledges to American & Texas Flag – SSES students
II. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS A. Announcement by the President whether a quorum is present, that the meeting had been duly called and that the notice of the meeting had been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. B. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting/budget adoption of the Board of Trustees conducted on Monday, August 13, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. and the special meeting of the Board of Trustees conducted on Friday, August 24, 2018, at 12:00 p.m., both held in the Board Room of the Administration Building. 7
III. PUBLIC FORUM: Public participation is limited to the designated open forum portion of a meeting per policy.
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS/INFORMATION ITEMS
A. Campus highlight – Sulphur Springs Elementary
B. Present CTE report. 12
C. Present HR/Communications Update.
D. Elementary and Secondary program updates.
E. Report on accountability ratings.
F. Head Start items for Board information only. – Policy Council Minutes for June.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: These items are considered to be routine by the board and will be enacted under one motion, unless a member of the board requests that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Action Items
A. Consider approval of Tax Credits and Supplements for August 2018.
B. Consider approval of Delinquent Tax Collections for August 2018.
C. Consider approval of Financial Statements and Bills Payable for August 2018.
D. Consider approval of Quarterly Investment Report for the three months ended August 31, 2018.
E. Consider approval of Organizational Flow Chart for Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center.
F. Consider approval of Head Start Mission Statement & Statement of Philosophy.
G. Consider approval of Head Start Personnel Policy Summary.
A. Discuss and consider approval of Resolution 4-16 regarding Extracurricular Status of 4-H Organization.
B. Discuss and consider Adjunct Faculty appointments with the local Texas Cooperative Extension Office.
C. Discuss and consider committing principal’s funds to campuses.
D. Discuss and consider approval of bids for two Maintenance Department vans.
E. Discuss and consider review of legal policies and approval of additions and revisions of local policies as recommended by Texas Association of School Boards Policy Services and according to the instruction sheet for TASB Localized Manual Update 111.
F. Discuss and consider approval of Resolution 5-18 for Board Approving Examinations for Acceleration or to Earn Credit.
G. Discuss and consider approval of Resolution 6-18 for Board-Approved Creditby-Examination Audit Process.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Executive Session will be held for the purpose of consideration of matters for which closed or executive sessions are authorized by Title 5, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, Section (.072), (.074). A. Discuss and consider personnel to be employed, personnel to be reassigned, acknowledge and accept resignations of personnel, other personnel matters. B. Discuss purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.
VIII. RECONVENE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ACTION RELATIVE TO ITEMS COVERED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
City Council Special Session Focused on Tax Rate
A special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 6:00 p. m. on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street.
The following items will be discussed:
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
2. Discussion/action on first reading of Ordinance No. 2728 setting the tax rate for the City of Sulphur Springs.
3. Visitors and public forum.
4 Adjourn.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Offers Spanish Language Classes
LANGUAGE PROSPECT
Jerry Pritchett of Sulphur Bluff visited the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus recently in search for help to learn Spanish. He found assistance and information on available classes from Spanish Instructor Mayra Cummings.
Work Begins to Install 4-Way Stop at Highway 19N/FM71 Intersection in Birthright
Traffic along State Highway 19 N at FM71 will soon be slowed to a stop. The intersection will be converted to a 4-way stop. Beginning this next week, drivers in the area should watch for traffic delays as crews begin installing sign bases for the upcoming 4-way stop conversion. This is one of four projects in Hopkins/Franklin County served by TxDOT during the week beginning September 10, 2018.
Here’s a look at work planned in Franklin and Hopkins Counties during the week of Sept. 10, 2018. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Other projects include:
I-30 rest areas, Hopkins County: on north and south service roads east of Cumby. Watch for work zones while workers are constructing and completing new rest areas for travelers on I-30.
SH 11, Hopkins County, from SH 154 to Rock Creek. Watch for work zones while workers are striping the newly surfaced roadway.
SH 37, Franklin County: From Mt. Vernon to Winnsboro. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews prepare for surfacing operations; flaggers will direct traffic.
Lady Cats Lose at Wylie East
More frustration for the Lady Cats’ volleyball team from Wylie East Friday. The Lady Raiders defeated the Lady Cats, 3-0 at Wylie East. The score was 21-25, 19-25 and 17-25.
Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness called it a good overall match. He said it was well fought until the middle of the third set. This was a rematch of a bi-district contest last Halloween in Royse City that Wylie East also won in straight sets.
In stats from Friday, Sadie Washburn led the Lady Cats with 7 kills. Autumn Tanton and Madi Vickery had 6 each. Abbi Baier had 3. Lexi Whisenhunt had 20 assists. In digs, Sadie Stroud and Tanton had 13 each. Maddie Millsap had 12. Whisenhunt had 9. Sydney Washburn had 5 block assists. Whisenhunt had 3. Sadie Washburn had 2.
The Lady Cats are now 22-6 for the season. They play next at home Tuesday night against Edgewood.
