CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Sulphur Springs’ Newest OB/Gyn Providers Expand Practice
SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System Sulphur Springs’ newest women’s health providers Tiffany Gebel, M.D., FACOG and Leigh Ann Klein, NP, have expanded their practices to serve the patients of the Winnsboro area at the end of November. As part of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic’s strategy to expand access to vital health care services to the patients of Northeast Texas, both providers will see and serve patients in CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System facilities in both Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro.
“We are excited to add Dr. Gebel and Ms. Klein to our already outstanding team at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Winnsboro, as they have already been serving patients faithfully in Sulphur Springs,” said Kristi Stern, Administrative Director of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic operations in Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs. “They bring a wealth of expertise, experience and enthusiasm to the clinic there. Also, this is truly fantastic news for our patients in the Winnsboro area. We are pleased to be able to offer much-needed services to the women of Northeast Texas seeking their OB/Gyn care in Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs. Both Dr. Gebel and Ms. Klein will be invaluable assets to CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System and an important resource in offering the highest levels of care to our patients here.”
Dr. Gebel is a board-certified OB/Gyn physician with more than seven years in practice in both the clinical setting with patients and in the hospital performing surgery. She joins CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System from private practice in Corsicana at Medical Associates of Navarro County OB/Gyn. She graduated with honors from Texas A&M University before earning her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and UT Southwestern in Dallas.
Klein joins the practice after serving East Texans at Zeid Women’s Health and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Tyler before completed her Masters as a Nurse Practitioner at Texas Women’s University.
“I’m thrilled to have joined CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs,” said Dr. Gebel. “The physicians, nurses, APPs and staff are top-notch, and I cannot wait to learn more about this community and continue my work.”
“Serving the OB/Gyn patients of Northeast Texas as a Nurse Practitioner has been a dream for many years,” said Klein. “I look forward to being able to care for the people of this community and serve the System’s mission: to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”
Ten Wildcat Band Members Qualify for All-Region Band; Five Advance to Area
Ten members of the Wildcats’ band qualified for the All-Region Band at tryouts last Friday at North Lamar High School in Paris. The ten students qualified for 11 spots since Celeste Leeds-Laliberte made it for both flute and piccolo. She will go forward on the flute. Five of the students qualified for Area competition on January 13 in Richardson, where they have the chance to qualify for state.
Band Director Charles McCauley said five students qualifying for Area competition equals the most the school has had over the twenty years he’s been at Sulphur Springs. Students making the All-Region Band include Celeste Leeds-Laliberte on flute, Carissa Carter on clarinet, Kate Flores on clarinet, Riley Farley on tenor sax, Natalie Cruz on bass clarinet, Nathan Braddy on trumpet, Zach Phillips on French horn, 8th grader Tyler Burnet on trombone and Adam Ost on trumpet. T
he five students qualifying for Area include Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, Carissa Carter, Riley Farley, Natalie Cruz and Nathan Braddy. McCauley said the five qualified by being rated among the top chairs in their sections.
Wildcats Continue to Improve as They Move Toward District Play
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta liked what he saw from his team Monday night at home in a 64-41 win over Paris. He said this might have been some of the best team basketball the Wildcats have played.
Coach Cipoletta said the team did a super good job of not taking the first shot available, of giving up a good shot for a great shot. He said the team was unselfish. Coach Cipoletta referred to their play as Spurs basketball. He added when the Wildcats do that they are hard to beat. Coach Cipoletta noted the team ended up with more than 25 assists. The Wildcats made ten three point baskets against Paris. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats are a great shooting team.
Then there was the defense Monday night. The Wildcats limited Paris to less than 10 points in each of the first three quarters: 6 points in the first quarter, 8 in the second quarter and 9 in the third quarter. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats were locked in on defense. Drills in practice encourage them to play defense for long stretches of time.
Coach Cipoletta said everyone seemed to play well. He mentioned that Michael Jefferson did an extremely good job of finding guys on offense. All thirteen Wildcats played and 11 of them scored. Coach Cipoletta said the whole team is dedicated to getting better. He said he encourages bench players to stay ready for when he calls on them.
The Wildcats are now 14-1 for the season and they are ranked #11 in Class 5A. They have played seven schools in Class 6A. The Wildcats play at Royse City Friday night. It’s the last game before the start of district play next week. Coach Cipoletta said the scrappy Bulldogs like to put pressure on and he added they shoot the ball well.
Game Day: Lady Cats Begin District Play at Home
The Lady Cats’ basketball team seems to be playing well as district play begins Tuesday night (December 12). The Lady Cats open district play on their home court against Greenville. Action begins Tuesday with JV Blue and Gold games starting at 5 p.m. and at 6:15 p.m. The varsity game should start at around 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Cats come into the district game with a 12-2 season record and they are on a six game winning streak. The Lady Cats are currently ranked #10 in Class 5A. The Lady Cats just captured the championship of the Edgewood Tournament this past weekend with five wins. They won the championship game over Tenaha, 59-50 Saturday evening. The Lady Cats are the defending district champion.
We will bring you all of the action of Lady Cats’ basketball Tuesday on KSST Radio beginning at around 7:30 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
City of Como Water Now Safe for Use
Water in the City of Como is now safe to use following test results of water samples taken Monday. Mayor Darla Henry told KSST News Monday that all problems had been remedied but the city was forced, due to the weekend, to wait until Monday to submit a water sample to a third party lab for tests. The boil water notice has not been removed.
The city had issued a boil water notice through the weekend for Como residents after a utility cut a main water line creating the water issues.
Dodd Seeks Republican Nomination for County Clerk
Michael “Mike” Dodd has announced his candidacy as a Republican nominee for the position of Hopkins County Clerk in the March 6 Republican Primary Election.
Mike is a life-long resident of Hopkins County, Texas, having been born in the old Sulphur Springs Hospital a little over 55 years ago to Jimmy Dodd and the late Venera Hopper Dodd.
“I have worked in the Land Surveying field,” stated Dodd, “working with Deeds, Deed Research, Probate Research, etc. for approximately 25 years, and for the past 7 years have been employed by Net Data Corporation as a Software Customer Support Representative working closely with County and District Clerks throughout the state of Texas.”
Dodd said, “In 1989, my Mom and I started doing family research for our Family Tree (the Dodds, Hoppers, Poseys, Reynolds, Thompsons, Lewis’ and Kimberlings) by going through the records of the surrounding County Clerk offices, which peaked my interest in all that a County Clerk does. I have long been associated with several County Clerks in the area, and know the importance of maintaining clear and accurate records for Land Transaction, Vital Statistics, Civil and Criminal Records, and Probate Issues.”
Dodd is a member of the 1980 graduating class of Sulphur Springs High School. A charter member of the North East Texas Choral Society, a member of the First United Methodist Church Choir, an active member of Shining Star Productions, and the director of the Martha Scott Handbell Choir of First United Methodist Church.
Dodd said that the Hopkins County Clerks office in Sulphur Springs has some of the best staff and records in this area, and it is his goal to continue to the good work started by the current County Clerk, Debbie Shirley and staff, to maintain those records for Hopkins County and in accordance to the guidelines set forth by the State of Texas. He understands the importance of reporting information to the State in a timely manner on order to help keep the County in a position to be able to apply for grants from the state for different funding issues. He also realizes the importance of reporting Criminal Activity in a timely manner to not only keep the County in good standing for governmental grants, but also to keep the DPS database up to date on Criminal Conviction for background checks of convicted defendants, etc.
Although Not Present for Court, Crump Found Guilty, Sentenced
Although not present for the second day of her trial Tuesday December 12, 2017, a Hopkins County Jury found Keri Amanda Crump, 28, of Sulphur Springs guilty of Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram. The guilty verdict was delivered around 9:30 a.m. and the sentencing phase got underway 15 minutes later. Before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the jury sentenced her to two years in state jail and assessed a $10,000 fine.
Ms. Crump was in attendance Monday. Her absence Tuesday means that law enforcement is now seeking her, according to Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison
In April, 2017 Crump was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle that had been involved in a single vehicle crash that occurred on I-30 eastbound at the 111-mile marker. Crump admitted to deputies at the scene she had smoked PCP just prior to the crash. When arrested by DPS on Airport Road Sunday around 6 p.m., she also admitted to the trooper that she was under the influence of PCP. She also admitted backing out while driving after smoking the PCP. In a search of the vehicle, three cigar type cigarettes were found. They appeared to be moist which was consistent with being dipped in liquid PCP, according to the arresting officer. A small vial of suspected PCP was found secreted in a cigarette package. She was taken to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and then to Hopkins County Jail.
Crump was indicted by a Hopkins County Grand Jury in August of this year.
In a summary of the case, Assistant District Attorney Harrison wrote, “After hearing the testimony of several witnesses, the jury heard a recorded jail telephone call made by the defendant on the night of her arrest. In the call, she blames her boyfriend for getting in trouble and states that the only reason she went to get the PCP was because he wanted to get high.
“The defendant then elected to testify. She told the jury that she doesn’t know why she crashed but that she might have accidentally smoked a cigarette with PCP on it. She said that her statements to the medical personnel and police officers were not reliable because she was intoxicated at the time. She attempted to explain her jail call to her boyfriend by saying that she was referring to PCP she had purchased for him a long time ago and that she was not aware on the date of the crash that any drugs were in her car.
“A forensic chemist from the DPS crime laboratory testified that the vial found in the defendant’s car contained PCP, as well as the cigarettes and cigars found next to the vial.
“After the defendant testified, the prosecutor offered evidence of several prior theft convictions, a felony conviction for Burglary of a Habitation, and a felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance from 2014 in which she also smoked PCP and crashed her car in Hopkins County.
“The jury found the defendant guilty in approximately 9 and a half minutes.
“During sentencing, the State called Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford, HCSO, who is a qualified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). He testified about the intoxicating effects of PCP. He also was one of the investigators from the 2014 PCP case.
“The State also called Detective David Gilmore, SSPD, who testified as a fingerprint expert about the defendant’s nine prior convictions including Assault, Theft, Burglary of a Habitation, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Delivery of a Controlled Substance. The Defendant is currently on probation out of Dallas County for Robbery.
“The jury sentenced the defendant to the maximum of two years confinement in state jail and the maximum fine of $10,000. The defendant did not appear for the second day of trial but the Court proceeded in absentia. There are now active warrants for her arrest and she may be indicted for Bail Jumping/Failure to Appear, which in her case carries a range of punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
SSISD Board Hears Reports; Approves Personnel Changes
Monday morning, Sulphur Springs School Board heard a number of reports and approved personal changes during their December meeting.
Sulphur Springs School District Financial Accountability Rating for 2016-2017 is a perfect rating of “Superior” and the District auditors, Rutherford, Taylor and Company, stated the district received the best opinion or “Unmodified”.
The board approved the 2017-2018 District Improvement Plan and the TASB Localized Policy Manual Update. All members of the board have met or exceeded training requirements for the year.
PERSONNEL
Resignations
Karen Anderson Grade 2 Teacher Lamar Primary (Mid-Term)
Leticia Moreno Secretary SS Elementary (Mid-Term)
Carolyn Beth Grafton Spanish/History Teacher High School (End of year)
Retirement
Deann Dickens Math Teacher Middle School (Mid-Term)
New personnel
Arlett Monrreal Title I Bilingual Aide ECLC
Alexa Thomas Grade 2 Teacher Lamar Primary
Misty Carr SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Personnel Change New position/campus Former position/campus
Maria Garcia-Hildago Purchasing Clerk/Admin Food Services Admin. Asst./Admin
SSISD Foundation Awards $27,519 in Teacher Grants
The SSISD Education Foundation recently awarded $27,519 in teacher grants. The recipients were:
- Talisha Harris and Sylvia Ramos: $1200 for Echale Ganas! Bilingual tutoring connecting high school dual language speakers with Travis Primary bilingual students to provide academic assistance and positive role models.
- Tammy Burnside, Chelsea Holcomb, Emily Simpson, Maricela Resendez, Kristen Downs, Mary Surber, Kori Reed, Whitney Helffrich, and Karen Phillips: $5,091 to establish Growing STEM Kids activities at ECLC.
- Kelly Shutt: $1,390 for a Raspberry Pi powered photo booth that her Computer Science Class at SSMS will design and develop.
- Hayley Glenn, Bryan Cole, Lucy Adair, Kelly Holloman, Ryan Watts and Gene McKelroy: $7,990 to bring the Perot Museum Campus Outreach Program to SSMS Science classes.
- Sara Price and Steve Futch: $2,400 for Heart Knowledge in their athletic and PE classes at SSMS using heart rate monitors and pedometers to combine technology and fitness.
- Christi Emmert: $1,500 for Nino Percussion Classroom Cajon drums at Travis, Lamar and Bowie Primary school’s music classes.
- Holly Folmar, Tim Thomas, Karen Moreland, Silvestra Alexander, Angie Evans, Miranda Coleman, Kristen Kristin Potts, Frances Charlton, Monica Martinez and Stephanie Ross: $3,200 for Science Live Tower Gardens that will grow food vertical gardens at Douglas Intermediate School.
- Allison Mayes and Myshoni Crook: $2,215 for Sensory Diet Integration activities in their Sulphur Springs Elementary School classroom.
- Charla O’Brien, Renee Johnson, Maria Mendez, Carmen Contretas, Sulema Martinez and Kimberly Ewalt: $634 to establish a Dual Language Global Community at Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
- Todd McCoy and Desi Pharis: $1,000 to purchase equipment that will aid his math classes studying tangible conic sections and the Technical Theater Classes designing and building sets at SSHS.
- Paula Haas and Lynn Smith: $800 to establish the Cat Shack retail store inside SSHS. Multiple classes at SSHS will help with inventory, financials, graphic design and staffing.
If anyone is interested in donating to the SSISD Education Foundation they can go to www.ssisdeducationfoundation.com
Commissioners’ Court Approves Crosstown Trail to Civic Center
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved the segment of Crosstown Trail that will proceed from Buford Park to the civic center with a slight alteration of the path to provide greater safety for pedestrians in the area where livestock are often found. The approval came Monday morning during their regular court session.
In other action, the court approved a final plat for the Sprague Subdivision in Precinct 2 and approved a service agreement to handle medical waste at Hopkins County Jail.
