“Camp Braveheart” Children’s Bereavement Camp Sponsored by Cypress Basin Hospice July 12, 13
Chaplain Mark Davenport, Bereavement Coordinator at Cypress Basin Hospice in Mt. Pleasant is planning a bereavement day camp for children ages 6 through 12 who have experienced the loss of a family member or friend in death. In it’s ninth year, the two-day camp will be held Thursday July 12 and Friday July 13, 2018 at First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs. Similar camps are being held this summer in Paris and Mt. Pleasant. The hours are 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. There is no cost to attend. Learn how to register a child for the camp at cbhospice.org or by calling 903-577-1510.
According to Davenport, children grieve differently than adults, and those differences need to addressed in an appropriate setting for them. Camp Braveheart benefits parents and guardians with a safe and loving environment for addressing the issues of loss. The camp sets three main objectives for the children: to feel safe, to know that God loves them, and to be part of a community of others who have similar challenges. On the first day, campers will attend group counseling with opportunity to talk about their loved ones and specific memories of that person. Individual counseling will also be available. Two meals per day will be eaten together at table with time for conversation about their families and homes. Games and craft projects will entertain as well as teach, and will provide memorable keepsakes they can take home with them. A Memorial service will be held for the loved ones on Friday at noon, followed by a pizza lunch and water play time as a wrap up to camp.
With grief-related concerns, you can reach Chaplain Mark Davenport at any time by calling 903-577-1510 or contact Cypress Basin Hospice at cbhospice.org.
City Council Approves Contract, Postpones CIP Vote
A contract awarded and a postponed vote on the Capital Improvement Plan was the result of a special session of the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night, June 26, 2018. Work begins on the awarded contract today and a final vote on the CIP will be on the agenda for the July council session.
Sulphur Springs City Council awarded the contract and approved a bid of $247,000 for sanitary sewer work to be performed along Highway 11W from just west to Stonebriar to the east within the city limits. Work to move the 1000 feet of sewer lines and a pump station begins today, June 27, 2018. The cost of the project will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT has already approved the amount and the contractor. The work is necessary for TxDOT to complete roadwork along State Highway 11W. The rework of 11W has taken 10 years and is now in the final stages.
With a limit to budgeted funds that can be spent on the 2019-2023, the five year Capital Improvement Plan will receive one tweak prior to final approval according to discussion of council with city staff. The city engineering department, utility departments and capital construction crew leadership answered council questions regarding how the plan is developed and the flexibility of the plan. City staff noted that the age and condition of sewer and water lines were a driving force in the streets designated for rework. They pointed out that the older segments of the city contained the older lines that were in dire need of repair. The downtown area and streets along Connally and College Streets were noted as priority areas. The five year plan calls for $3.5 million to be spent from the water and sewer funds and $5.5 million from street funds. The sewer work moving a major line from across hospital property to around hospital property and down Jackson Street from money already budgeted is also underway.
The council did question if flooding along College Street had been evaluated. Staff answered that it had been evaluated and would be eliminated or reduced during the rework of that street. Staff assured council that flooding would not be worse than it currently is.
The council requested that city staff extend one project, Bellview Street, for an additional block. That means that another project will be dropped from the list of 10 projects proposed to the council due to budget limits. The Bellview project was set for South Moore and finish at Texas. A council member advocated that the work extend to League Street to Texas Street.
The motion to approve the CIP for 2019-2023 that had been tabled at the June meeting has now been postponed until the July session as they await final cost of the Bellview rework including the extension requested.
Local Home Receives Registered Texas Historical Landmark Designation; Dedication is Saturday, June 30th
Known locally as the Ashcroft House, a colonial style house built in 1939 at 333 College Street will be the center of attention Saturday morning at 11 a.m. when the house will be named a Registered Texas Historical Landmark. The designation is a higher designation than a historical landmark. The County Courthouse is the only other building in Hopkins County with the designation.
A Registered Texas Historical Landmark is not only based on the history of the building but also on architecture. There has been an addition made to the original structure but that was 50 years ago and the architectural style was carried out in the addition.
The current owners of the house, Monty and Vivian Dennis Monzingo, have resided in the house for two years. Their love for the house, the appreciation for the history of the house and their love for the community along College Street motivated them to apply for the designation, according to Sulphur Springs Mayor and local historian John Sellers. Sellers says the house has a distinctive place in Sulphur Springs. It serves as a landmark. He noted that a number of pictures for various occasions have the interior and exterior of the house as a background.
The designation does not mandate that the family open the house for tourists. However, any changes or repairs to the house will require approval by the state historical commission.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony Saturday morning at 11 a.m. on the front lawn of the home.
Two Arrested for Felony 2 Mushrooms
The odor of fresh marijuana gained the attention of the DPS Trooper that stopped a 2005 Honda Civic for speeding and an equipment violation Tuesday evening at the 126 mile marker on I-30. The two passengers, Nicolas Cardenas, 22, of Dallas, and Linda Harmony Hardy, 20, of Cedar Hill were arrested for possession of a controlled substance—psilocybin mushrooms.
Based on Hardy’s statements and demeanor during questions asked by the trooper, it was apparent both she and Cardenas were knowingly in possession of the mushrooms.
Both are in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2, more than 4-grams but less than 400-grams, a Felony 2.
New Coaches at SSHS and SSMS
After the Sulphur Springs School Board approved all the coaches he had recommended, Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens provided more information on the new hires Monday afternoon (June 25).
The Wildcats new football Defensive Coordinator is Alex Guerra. Coach Owens said he has known Coach Guerra for a long time. He said Coach Guerra comes to the Wildcats from Nevada Community, where he was Defensive Coordinator and Inside Linebacker Coach. Coach Guerra has also coached at Royse City, Pittsburg, LaVilla, San Antonio Memorial and Rockwall. Coach Guerra replaces Triston Abron who resigned to become Head Coach at Paul Pewitt.
The new Lady Cats Basketball Coach is Brittney Tisdale. She comes to Sulphur Springs from Mildred. Coach Owens said Coach Tisdale got rave reviews there. She has also coached at Paris and Cooper. Coach Tisdale is the daughter of Billy Mack Steed, the current boys coach at Paris. Coach Tisdale replaces Coach Jeff Chapman, who left for another coaching opportunity.
Coach Owens hired Alexi Upton as the new Wildcats Head Soccer Coach. Coach Upton played at Mesquite Poteet for former Wildcat Colby Peak. He has also been a student assistant at Texas State and most recently coached in Baytown. Coach Upton replaces Wildcats Soccer Coach Nicky Wiggins, whose resignation was accepted by the school board earlier this month.
Javier Aguayo has been hired as the Wildcats Assistant Soccer Coach. Aguayo is a first year coach from Como. He will also teach Spanish. Coach Aguayo replaces former Wildcat Fernando Arellano who resigned.
Brandon DeLorge has also been hired as a Wildcat Assistant Basketball Coach. Coach DeLorge was a head coach at Bland and also coached at North Forney, Forney and Irving. Coach DeLorge replaces Cameron Warren, who will become a Wildcat baseball assistant.
Coach Jason Meskimen is moving from baseball assistant to track.
Coach Owens has also hired two middle school coaches. They are Kevin Hatcher, a former head coach at Fellowship Academy and Legacy Christian Academy, and Duane Davis, a Caddo Mills native who played college football at Southern Arkansas and at Texas A&M-Commerce.
Wildcats New Soccer Coach Recommended by Former Wildcat
Alexi Upton is the Wildcats new head soccer coach. Coach Upton attended the SSISD summer soccer camp Monday night (June 25). Coach Upton played for former Wildcat Colby Peak at Mesquite Poteet and he graduated in 2013.
Coach Upton said Mesquite Poteet played the Wildcats in the playoffs at Lindale in 2013 and Poteet won. Ironically, one of the Wildcats on the field that night was Tony Bravo, who was helping out with the soccer camp Monday night. Coach Upton said Bravo is a great guy. Coach Upton also admires Coach Peak, now at McKinney Boyd. Coach Upton said he uses Coach Peak as a reference. He said Coach Peak preaches great values and Coach Upton said he tries to use those values where ever he goes and whatever he does.
Upton last coached at Baytown and Coach Owens hired Coach Upton as he was also considering being as assistant for former Lady Cat Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon at Texas High. Coach Upton said he likes his teams to play at a fast pace and be aggressive on offense while being smart on defense. He said he wants hard working kids and he added he’s heard the kids at Sulphur Springs are hard working. Coach Upton said he wants to challenge Mount Pleasant for the district championship.
Master Gardner: Summertime Garden Changes
By: Bob Suson, Hopkins County Master Gardener
The change into summer brings with it a change in gardening tasks for the month of July. Gardening activities usually slow- down in the summertime as the temperature continues to climb into the 90’s or above. July is often a very dry month, and like most years, can be very hot too. So, we usually don’t start a lot of new garden projects. However, there are always maintenance chores to do and we should consider starting the “Fall” vegetable garden right now.
Most gardeners are harvesting spring planted vegetables that have reached the peak of their maturity for maximum nutrition and quality. It is time to harvest vegetables regularly from your garden to keep it productive. Letting squash get too large will cause production to diminish greatly.
Start preparing for the Fall garden in July. It may seem odd to start now, but you need to get plants started in time for harvest before first freeze. Plant vegetables that your family likes. Examine existing plants that might carry through to Fall. Tomatoes often are not replanted, but if they are covered with spider mites (they’re often bad this time of year) seriously consider replanting this month. You’ll need to pamper new transplants a little to get them started, but they’ll be ready for a great harvest in October when quality will be high!
Do not plant the same vegetable type in the same spot year after year. Soil borne diseases will build up and eventually cause major problems. Add compost or other organic matter and composted manure, cotton seed meal or other fertilizers to the garden spot before tilling. If you thought plant growth was poor this spring, check the pH of your garden soil before adding nutrients and add lime if needed. (You may pick up a soil sample bag and mailing sheet at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office – 1200 Houston Street).
Plants that can be transplanted in July include tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. Crops that can be started from seed this month include lima beans, cantaloupes, black-eyed peas, pumpkin, summer squash, winter squash and watermelon. Plant varieties with the shortest days to harvest. The Extension Office also has planting guides giving you dates and varieties good for our area.
Drip irrigation, combined with mulch, is an excellent way to maintain high quality vegetable plants throughout the summer. Drip systems are easy to install and require less water than sprinkler or furrow irrigation. Usually drip systems need to be operated frequently to adequately supply water to the plants root zone. (how often depends on soil type and drip system). Frequently check emitters for clogging.
Have fun!
Source: www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetables
American Flag Kit Give Away At Independence Day Celebration!
Saturday, June 30th, at the Independence Day Celebration, KSST Radio will be giving away 10 American Flag Kits! It’s an IDC tradition. All you have to do is enter a drawing. Just come up to the KSST booth beside the Symphony stage and fill out the ballot to enter to win a free American Flag kit. Kits donated once again by Lowes of Sulphur Springs.
Video Presentation: CHRISTUS Adding to Medical Community; Hopkins County EMS Celebrating 35 Years
Tuesday morning, Paul Harvey, CEO of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, told KSST News that the ministry of CHRISTUS continues to expand as new physicians are added to the local medical community. He noted the priority of service to patients continues to provide needed information that will increase services and comfort to patients and their families. Many of his comments were based his report to the Hopkins County Hospital District Board during their Monday night meeting. [Editor’s note: A written report on the board meeting including the planned celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Hopkins Count EMS is found below the video in this article].
During the Hopkins County Hospital District Board meeting Monday, board members received financial, EMS, and hospital reports. Ron Folwell, District Executive, said the district will end the year on budget thanks to increased tax revenue, nursing home revenue and tobacco revenues from settlement, and EMS revenue. The addition of two nursing homes, a doubling of tobacco revenues was noted. Expenses in personnel increased with the addition of new EMS staff and the specific local training, which includes job shadowing, given to six new employees. AMBUS is currently being upgraded but that cost is paid by the state. The AMBUS is in Dallas for four to five days for work to be accomplished. An RSVP reception celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Hopkins County EMS is Wednesday, August 1, 2018. The event at the Sulphur Springs Country Club will include a review of the history of Hopkins County EMS since 1983 to the present. Special note will be made of awards and accolades received by the local EMS for their service to the area. Hopkins County EMS currently serves Hopkins, Delta, and Franklin Counties. According to EMS, the number of out of county patients being brought to the local hospital is increasing. EMS and the local hospital are partnering to find additional ways to encourage out of county patients to use the local facility and local doctors. In a report to the board, Paul Harvey, CEO of CHRISTUS Mother Francis Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro, told the board that new physicians are coming to Sulphur Springs. A nurse practitioner will join the practice of Dr. Graves to assist in orthopedics. A new facility will also increase the orthopedic practice locally. A new GI physician will join the local medical community in September. He is visiting the surgical suites and office space this week. Access Physicians Specialty Clinic will be moving to the Medical Plaza building. They will be adding additional services and physicians including two pulmonologists. Harvey stated that the Emergency Room has continued to improve services. He also noted improvements in patient services.
