Guess They’re Staying; CHRISTUS Logo Affixed to Hospital Building Wednesday
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital is now identified by the hospital logo on the front wall of the building. The emblem welcomes those driving Jim Masters Boulevard, the entrance to the hospital off Airport Road.
It replaces the Memorial Hospital logo that once graced the main building. The hospital name was changed when Hopkins County Memorial Hospital District sold 51% of ownership the hospital to CHRISTUS Health. The sale was finalized July 11, 2016. The logo change took place Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
Signs denoting the emergency room entrance had been changed almost immediately following the sale.
Chamber Connection September 14, 2017
Chamber Connection-September 14th
Here’s a little update on the 48th Annual Stew Contest! The Chamber has already mailed out Stew Cook letters and Sponsor letters. If you have not received your letter, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515. If you would like to cook or sponsor a stew pot for the first time, please don’t hesitate. Give us a call and we will get you signed up!
Deadline to enter and KEEP YOUR STEW SITE from last year is Friday, September 15th. On Monday, September 18th, you may come by the Chamber and choose a new site based on availability. The 48th Annual Stew Cook-off is scheduled for Saturday, October 28nd, and that will be here before you know it!!
Texas WIC is offering a partnership to help with your child’s haircut
Jeff Luster at Studio 9 Hair Designs has partnered with WIC for a discount on children’s haircuts. You may receive $5 off haircuts for children 5 years old and under as long as you bring your ID with name and current WIC shopping receipt. The offer is valid September 1st through September 30th. The hours available for hair appointments are Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and are by appointment only. Contact Jeff Luster at Studio 9 Hair Designs, 421 E. Industrial Dr., Suite 208, in Sulphur Springs by calling (903) 335-1491.
SmartTech is holding a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening on Friday, September 15th at 4 p.m.
SmartTech Home Solutions is hosting their ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on Friday, September 15th at 4 p.m. SmartTech is located at 1217 S Broadway St., Suite A2, in Sulphur Springs. Make plans to come by and welcome this new business to Hopkins County.
The Lights of Life Style Show is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 p.m.
The HC Health Care Foundation is hosting its annual Lights of Life Style Show on Thursday, September 14th at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Entry fee is a $25 donation and there will be door prizes and a raffle. Dinner and fashions will be provided by Lou Nells. For ticket information contact the Foundation office at (903) 438-4799 or Lou Nell’s at (903) 885-0664.
First Baptist Church is offering a Beth Moore Simulcast on September 16th
First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs is offering a Beth Moore Simulcast called “Captivated: The Wonder of Christ on the Winding Road”. The simulcast will be held on Saturday, September 16th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at First Baptist Church. This is a free event, but you must register at www.ssfbc.org, or in the church office, or at ROC to attend.
Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild’s Annual Quilt Show is scheduled for September 15th and 16th
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild is hosting their 18th Annual Quilt Show on Friday, September15th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, September 16th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Door prizes are given away throughout the day, and children’s activities are available, too! The quilt show will be located at the ROC, 115 Putnam Street in Sulphur Springs.
Brick Street Vintage Market is scheduled for Saturday, September 16th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Downtown Business Alliance is sponsoring a Brick Street Vintage Market on Saturday, September 16th, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be located downtown on Connally and Gilmer streets. Many local and out of town vendors will be here participating in this first-time event. You don’t want to miss this!
Etiquette by Emily is hosting Cotillion classes starting in September
Etiquette by Emily is hosting Cotillion classes that are scheduled to begin Monday, September 18th at 5:30. Reserve your spot before they’re gone. Classes will be located at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast. It will run weekly for four weeks. Cost is $75 per student, and there is a discount for siblings. Call 903-243-6222 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot!
First Baptist Church will hold monthly Diamond Set Meetings beginning in September
The 60 Plus Ministry of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs will begin its monthly Diamond Set meeting next Tuesday, September 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There will be free blood pressure checks and information by Legacy Hospice. The special program will be presented by Rev. Fred and Jane Randles. The luncheon meal will cost $5.00 per person. Everyone is invited to attend this time of good food, great music, medical information and fellowship.
SSISD hosts a ribbon cutting celebration for their new student construction project
SSISD is holding a ribbon cutting on Thursday, September 21st for their new construction project at 128 Fore Street at 2:30 p.m. Sulphur Springs High School is proud to announce that their Construction Tech I students will be undertaking the project of building a home on 128 Fore Street in Sulphur Springs during the 2017-18 school year. This is the second year of their Architecture and Construction programs, and they are excited about this opportunity for our students. The project will be completed under the direction of their Construction instructor, Mr. Harold Smithson, with community contractors, local companies, the SSISD Maintenance Director, Mr. Dan Froneberger, and the SSISD Maintenance Staff actively supporting and helping throughout the process. The Principles of Architecture and Interior Design students, under the direction of their instructor, Mrs. Christina Davis, will be making the interior selections to finish out the project. Come by and support this amazing new project for SSISD.
Texas AgriLife Extension Office is hosting classes this month
Texas AgriLife Extension Office is offering Cooking Well with Diabetes as a series of four classes. Attend this series of four fun-filled, interactive classes packed with research-based information and delicious diabetes-friendly recipes. It is located at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B Houston Street in Sulphur Springs on September 14, 19 and 24 at 1:30 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. (your choice). Cost is $25 and payable at the first session. Call 903-885-3443 to reserve your space or if you need additional information.
Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation is holding a Sip & See
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation is holding a Sip & See on Thursday, September 28th, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the home of Dr. Scott & Deanna McDearmont, 729 Church Street in Sulphur Springs. Tour this 120-year-old home that has been owned by a U.S. Congressman, State Representative and judge, shoe store owner, and two local doctors. Admission is a $25 donation at the door. John Sellers will be the guide for the evening, and appetizers will be provided by Plain & Fancy. Reservations are required by September 27th. You may make reservations by calling (903) 438-4799.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
Wildcats, 2-0 Host Paris Wildcats for Homecoming Friday Night
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens says the Wildcats 2-0 start has had an effect on Wildcats practices this week. He says players are gaining confidence. Coach Owens says cooler weather this week has also had a positive effect on the players. Coach Owens had his media gathering Wednesday morning with the Paris Homecoming Game coming up Friday at The Prim.
Sometimes friction can develop between the offense and defense on a team but Coach Owens says that is not a problem for the Wildcats. He says there are 27 Wildcats seniors and they all seem to like each other. It also helps that many of the Wildcats play on both sides of the ball. Many of this year’s seniors were on the varsity as sophomores.
Concerning Paris, Coach Owens says they will bring good athletes to town as usual. Last year the Wildcats were up by 14 points after three quarters but Paris rallied to win, 36-35. Coach Owens says Paris has offensive weapons that play behind a line featuring two huge 300 pound tackles. Actually one is listed at 350. Paris runs about 75% of the time on offense. Of concern for the Wildcats offense is a big nose tackle for Paris.
Coach Owens says the Wildcats are working to be more consistent. He also commented on the state of the Paris Sulphur Springs rivalry. He says it may not be as intense as it once was because the two teams have not been in the same district for ten years. The players do know about each other. Old timers in both towns still remember the old days when the rivalry was a hot one. Steven Hohenberger is the Paris head coach. He played with Wildcats Offensive Line Coach Jeremy Offutt at North Lamar. Coach Owens brother Chris coached with Coach Hohenberger at Irving Nimitz. Coach Owens says Coach Hohenberger is a good guy who has the Paris program moving in the right direction. Coach Hohenberger is in his fifth year as Paris head coach.
Check DriveTexas.org Before You Go
AUSTIN – With more than 500 state roadway closures during the height of Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Department of Transportation’s DriveTexas.
“We’ve always been proud of DriveTexas.org as a resource for guiding drivers across Texas, but we had never relied on it more than we did in the days following Hurricane Harvey,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “During the storm, DriveTexas.org was visited by a record number of people trying to safely navigate to their destinations. The real-time updates, which are made by TxDOT team members in the field, kept pace with fast-moving conditions and were invaluable to thousands of travelers and emergency responders who otherwise may not have known where to turn for accurate information.”
DriveTexas.org is an industry leader in providing some of the most accurate and up-to-date travel-related information available to drivers in Texas. The site, always available to people seeking information, also offers a toll-free phone number (800-452-9292) that provides the same information 24/7. Along with 5 million website visits since Harvey made landfall on August 24, the toll-free TxDOT Travel Information Line received more than 163,000 calls.
Information presented on DriveTexas.org is as close to real time as possible and is a vital tool for the public during emergency situations when information about road closures is being shared. Along with finding road closures, the site offers information about construction zones, flooding, damage and accidents.
DriveTexas.org Features
DriveTexas.org allows drivers to personalize their travels in and around the state. The following services can be found on this site:
- Map legend allowing travelers to look up what type of travel conditions are along a specific route (i.e., construction, road closures, ice/snow, etc.)
- Traffic camera icons linking to local sites with traffic cameras, congestion data, incident reports and more detailed information in select locations
- Travel Information Center and Safety Rest Area icons including the location of facility, details on amenities, phone number and hours of operation
- Link to allow users to provide feedback
TxDot logo
Bone Marrow Transplant Subject of Recent PJC-Sulphur Springs Blend Club Meeting
Members of the Blend Club, a student organization on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus, learned about bone marrow transplant at a recent meeting. Kelly Martinez, right, representative for Be The Match, an advocate group that seeks volunteer donors, explains the process to (from left front) Damon Donald and Agustin Cuevas. In back are Airy Osorio and Blend Club advisor Mayra Cummings.
A Walk To Remember: UPDATE
Each of the Nursing Homes, Assisted Livings and the Senior Center are in a contest to see who can raise the most money for the walk. Funds are raised by Selling T-Shirts, Raffle Tickets and different Fund Raisers that they hold on their own to raise funds that are all tallied together for a Grand Total and the night of the Walk. The winner gets the “Spirit Award” which is a Perpetual Plaque with their name engraved on it and it will be passed on to the next winner each year. They will get to hang it up in their Facility until the next campaign.
We have a Quilt that is being raffled off that was donated by Bill Ruff. We are also working on a couple of Gift Card Baskets to Raffle off that merchants from around town have donated. The Avon Ladies, Patsy Cowan and Margie Giger, are supposed to have another big Basket of Avon products to raffle off again this year.
Below is a list of T-Shirt and Booth Sponsors for the “A Walk To Remember” Campaign. T-shirts will be available Thursday Morning. The Walk Registration is $20.00 and includes a T-Shirt. Many T-Shirt Sponsors will have booths along the Walk Path with information and Goodies to pass out. Shirts will be worn at all of the Mini Walks that start on Tuesday, September 19th beginning with the Terrific Tuesdays Group.
The Goal every year is $ 10,000.00. It takes this much to keep Terrific Tuesdays going for another year. This is the ONLY fundraiser that we have all year for Terrific Tuesdays.
It is a wonderful and worthy cause.
I would like to say “THANK YOU” to all of our T-shirt and Booth Sponsors that make the walk Possible. I would like to say “Thank You” to everyone that I know that will donate and purchase raffle tickets so we can raise and surpass our goal of $ 10,000.00.
Karon Weatherman
Program and Marketing Director
Senior Citizen’s Center
150 Martin Luther King Blvd
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
(903) 885-1661
Sponsors for “A Walk to Remember”
Sulphur Springs Senior
J&M Signs and Screen Printing
Hopkins Place Assisted Living
Brian Toliver Ford
Alliance Bank – Sulphur Springs
Rock Creek Health and Rehab
In Honor of Aunt Bessie Husner by Pamela Johnson
Legacy Hospice
Wesley House Assisted Living
Wesley Oaks Memory Care
The Community Chronicle
Kindred Hospice
Sunny Springs Nursing and Rehab
Jordan Health Services / CIMA Hospice
Snap Fitness of Sulphur Springs
Pilot Club of Sulphur Springs
Hopkins County Marketers Association
Outreach Home Care
Grocery Supply and Fidelity Express
Centric Home Health and Hospice
Sulphur Springs Imaging Center
City National Bank – Sulphur Springs
Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab
United Healthcare Community Plan
In Memory of our Mother Mildred Z.
Germania Insurance – Gloria Mitchell
Jay Hodge Motors
Car Mart – Sulphur Springs
Ross & Shoalmire – Elder Law
Cypress Basin Hospice
Saputo
1st Choice Home Health
Heart To Heart Hospice
Celebrate Living Realty
Dr. Balkcom Improving; Possible Surgery Next Week
Dr. I L Balkcom is improving and may be able to undergo surgery next week. Following a severe heart attack earlier this month, Dr. I L Balkcom remains in Baylor, Scott & White Medical Center, Plano, also known as The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, according to a member of the board of the Hopkins County Hospital District. Dr. Balkcom is a family practice physician at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Sulphur Springs and is well known for his performances with the Northeast Texas Choral Society. Dr. Balkcom suffered his heart attack Tuesday afternoon at his office. Dr. Balkcom was treated locally and at Plano Heart Hospital by Advanced Heart Care’s Dr. Jai Varma.
SSISD Schools Accountability Ratings Reported to Board; Douglas Intermediate Has Outstanding Year
Superintendent of SSISD schools Michael Lamb said there are solid performance points and areas of work noted in the accountability rating received from the Texas Education Agency. Lamb told KSST News Wednesday morning that the 2017 Accountability Summary for reflected outstanding scores for Douglas Intermediate and Sulphur Springs High School. The Middle School and Elementary, grades 3-4, were lower but did meet standards.
Lamb said that the stronger scores in the upper grades are encouraging. He stated that the ultimate goal is for those in high school to perform at a high standard reflecting a strong educational system. He noted that the 60% of students falling into the low socioeconomic level and that has a greater effect on the lower grades. Reading levels fall in lower socioeconomic groups. However, the testing shows that the reading level raises as the students progress through the grade levels. Lamb says he likes the fact that improvements are made over time as students go into higher grades.
For the high school, the students scored well in six out of seven scoring factors for distinction. The only area that missed distinction, by 3% points, was student progress.
The Middle School scored in the top middle of the 40 comparable schools. The students scored strong in math and reading. The school has concentrated in math rather than science in the past few years.
Douglas Intermediate School students performed at an outstanding level. The school scored five of six stars. The math star was missed only by less than 2%. In student achievement, Douglas scored first among the 40 schools with which the district is compare. They were second in student progress and post-secondary readiness and sixth in closing performance gaps. Lamb called it a phenomenal year for Douglas. He said what happened in Douglas did not happen in just one year. He credited the work performed in the elementary level that assisted in the success.
Lamb stated that for students in the lower socioeconomic level, change is often hard and that has an effect on the elementary level. SSISD is one of two schools in the 40 used for comparison where students moved from one campus to another at 3rd grade level. He also noted that for some of those students, parents’ work hours affect how much time is spent in assisting the student in reading and in other studies.
For Lamb, the most positive achievement for the local district is that the district is working hard and doing well. He pointed to the scores on college entrance tests and the involvement in career and technology education as an indicator of the district’s success. He stated that the high scores in Algebra, a gatekeeper course, and Biology point to the progress of the district.
Testing is sometimes deceiving, according to Lamb. He said high scores may disappoint when other schools score as high or higher and low scores deceive as is noted when other schools in the comparison group are scoring lower than your school.
Overall, Lamb is pleased with the success seen in the high school. He has noted the areas that need additional focus and work.
DBA Debuts Brick Street Vintage Market This Saturday September 16
All the details are in place, down to custom-printed shopping bags! for the Brick Street Vintage Market set to open Saturday September 16 at 8am through downtown Sulphur Springs. The Market will be set up until 6pm in a large horseshoe shape along Connally, Jefferson, Gilmer and Main Streets. About 50 vendors, most from out of town, will be displaying vintage antiques and art, quilts, handmade furniture, repurposed and handmade items, vintage-inspired home and garden decor and clothing items for sale. Over on Celebration Plaza, your purchase of a $10 raffle ticket allows you to the opportunity for three major prize packages. There will also be Vintage Market T-Shirts for Sale. The first 100 shoppers who come to the Information Center at 220 Connally Street will receive a free shopping bag filled with goodies. Organizers of the vintage market did not include food vendors because they want to point shoppers to the 17 different restaurants, cafe’s, wineries, bars and gourmet shops within walking distance of Celebration Plaza, as well as the retail businesses located there. There will be free transportation to and from the Quilt Show at The Roc via the Sulphur Springs Trolley.
Along with her committees, Judy Heilman, President of Downtown Business Alliance and owner of Gourmet Kitchen and Company at 213 Main Street has been working diligently on the debut event for months. Local artist Mike Elliot designed the Vintage Market logo, and many downtown merchants got on board by promoting the event through their own advertising mediums.
Business owner Judy Heilman, DBA President and Vintage Market organizer
