Healthcare Month at SS Health and Rehab
REHAB THERAPY SPECIALIST CURT MAYO AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST DEBBIE L. JONES
May is National Healthcare Month. During 2017, Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab has entered a new era of health care for their residents. With it’s 50-year history of serving the community, a new facet of care has been added in the new recovery wing. There are now 13 private Medicare suites centered around the rehabilitation and therapy department. Therapy Specialist Curt Mayo is working with outpatient and inpatient short-term residents in specialized treatment programs. Debbie L. Jones, Business Development Specialist, is planning to conduct CNA classes in the near future. She and her team are also planning a Memorial Day cookout for residents and their guests on Monday May 29 as a fun day and a wrap-up to Healthcare Month. Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab at 411 Airport Road continues their commitment to healthcare, rehabilitation and nursing care with a homelike atmosphere for the citizens of Hopkins County and those in surrounding areas.
Man Wanted for Murder in Dallas County Apprehended Locally
A man wanted for murder in Dallas County was apprehended on westbound I-30 at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday. Stopped by a Hopkins County interdiction officer, a records check showed Jerryll Dewayne Smalley, 39, of Dallas wanted for the May 10th incident.
Smalley is in Hopkins County jail being held on a $250,000 bond.
A Hopkins County Jury Awards in Excess of $8-million in Injury Case
A Hopkins County jury returned a verdict of what will be in excess of $8-million Tuesday in the 62nd District court. The verdict is by far, the largest ever in Hopkins County history. The Plaintiff was represented by Randy Roberts and Mike Ace of The Roberts and Roberts Law Firm in Tyler and by local attorney John C. Ginn of Smith, McDowell, Ginn.
The Plaintiff, Charles Knighton, a Franklin County truck driver, was unloading a feed truck into a hopper train car at the Blacklands Railroad in Mount Vernon, Texas. Evidence showed that the Blacklands conductor gave permission for Knighton to get up on top of the car and then move the train without notice. Knighton suffered horrific injuries, falling over 15ft. and landing on the train coupling between cars. He suffered a pelvic injury with permanent disabling nerve loss and physical impairment among other injuries.
Local attorney Ginn praised both the lead attorneys and the jury. He stated, “First the jury was very attentive and conscientious and second, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Ace did a superb job of presenting what amounted to overwhelming evidence.”
On the first day of evidence, the jury heard testimony from the engineer stating that the conductor did indeed advise him he had given permission to Mr. Knighton to “get up there.” That testimony was in direct contradiction of previous testimony from the conductor. Ginn stated he believed that was a key turning point in the case. “Juries are interested in the truth, and when witnesses are less than honest with them, a jury will exact appropriate justice.”
Ginn said that the verdict also offers some vindication for the Knightons. They have never received an apology or any acknowledgement from Blacklands Rail Road that they improperly moved the train, according to Ginn. He went on to say that the most important thing is that the verdict will go a long way in restoring some of what has been lost by the Plaintiff.
“The jury has given Charles and Misti Knighton a chance to have some normalcy as they try to live out the rest of their lives together under very difficult circumstance,” stated Ginn.
Public Library Announces Knights and Princesses 2017 Summer Reading Program
Hope Cain, Librarian at the Sulphur Springs Public Library, has announced the schedule for the children’s summer reading program. Theme for the summer is Knights and Princess Summer Reading program. It begins with a Medieval Times Storytime.
June 7 at 10:30am Sulphur Springs Public Library’s Knights and Princess Summer Reading Program will host an unofficial kickoff with a Medieval Times Storytime. We cannot wait to see who will stop by to read!
June 8 at 6pm is the official Summer Reading Program kickoff. Registration will be at Sulphur Springs Public Library, along with the Petting Zoo, food, prize bags with reading logs and Dairy Queen will offer face painting. Smiley the Shark from Splash Kingdom and Belle from Shining Star Productions’ Beauty and the Beast will be available for photos.
June:
Every Tuesday 3pm Multiplayer Minecraft
June 7 Wednesday 10:30 am Storytime with Medieval Times
June 8 Thursday 6pm Summer Reading Program Kickoff and Registration
June 13 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
June 20 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
June 22 Thursday 6pm Storytime for all ages.
June 26 Monday 10:30am Musical Storytime with Will Parker
June 27 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
July/Aug
Every Tuesday 3pm Multiplayer Minecraft
July 6 Thursday 6pm Storytime for all ages.
July 11 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
July 18 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
July 20 Thursday 6pm Storytime for all ages.
July 25 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
August 1 Tuesday 10:30am Storytime for all ages
August 3 Thursday 6pm Storytime for all ages.
August 4 Last day to turn in Reading Logs for prizes
Winnsboro Police Department Report for May 15-21, 2017
Winnsboro Police Department arrested three, investigated one accident, issued 41 citations, wrote 47 warnings, and responded to 155 calls for service during the report period May 15-21, 2017
Matthew Harris, 21 of Sulphur Springs was arrested May 15th on a Hopkins County warrant.
Melanie Slayton, 34, of Sulphur Springs was arrested May 16th for Driving while License Invalid with Previous Convictions.
Richard Bailey, 39, of Winnsboro was arrested May 16th for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
Winnsboro Police responded to a one vehicle accident May 17th at 11:55 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Walnut. Vehicle was southbound on South Walnut and failed to control speed causing it to leave the roadway and hitting a culvert. Any injuries are unknown.
PJC Meets State Financial Health Standards
According to an annual report done by The Higher Education Coordinating Board for the Governor’s Office and the Legislative Budget Board, Paris Junior College is in good financial health.
“It’s an assessment of the overall financial health of the 50 community colleges in Texas,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “It’s done to identify potential financial stress and there were only 24 colleges meeting all the thresholds and PJC is one of those 24. We met all seven indicators; I was very pleased to see this.”
In other business, the Regents:
- Received a financial report from Comptroller Keitha Carlton showing PJC to be in a stable position with revenues exceeding expenses.
- Approved the audit engagement letter for McLanahan and Holmes to conduct the annual audit of the College and the PJC Memorial Foundation.
- Accepted the policy revisions recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards Policy Service on Policy Manual Update 32.
- Set the budget workshop for June 29.
- Received an update on the local redistricting bill that would follow through to redistribute regent representation throughout Lamar County, and on development of the campus carry policy for PJC facilities.
- Accepted the resignations of Educational Opportunity Center Advisor Jackie Draughn and Financial Aid Coordinator Patty Allison.
SSHS Fishing Club’s Scott, Hunt Place 19th at State Tournament
The Sulphur Springs High School Fishing Club’s team of senior Sam Scott and sophomore Hagan Hunt won $1,000 in scholarship money each and other prizes for finishing in nineteenth place in the Texas High School Bass Association’s State Tournament this past weekend at Lake Ray Roberts.
According to Fishing Club Coach Norman Sanders, another team finished around thirty-sixth or thirty-seventh while a third team came in around the middle of the pack in a field of about 230 boats from all over the state. The other two-man SSHS teams included Braden Katchunska and Matt Reynolds and also Sloan McGahee and Skyler Long. Sanders said the fishermen did real well and he added it was a great thing for the local club.
He said the weather was really bad Saturday. Sanders said he heard that one tournament team had a close call with some lightning. Still he said the six Sulphur Springs’ students all had a real good time. Sanders said he would miss the seniors that graduate later this week but he added each year youngsters step up to take their place. After summer vacation, the Sulphur Springs High School Fishing Team will start up again in the fall.
Over 200 Attend City’s Comprehensive Plan Discussion
Approximately 200 citizens of Sulphur Springs arrived early Monday evening at the Hopkins County Civic Center to discuss the Comprehensive Plan for the city. Ian Lockwood of Toole Design Group will lead the four person team that is working with city staff and residents in developing the plan that will replace a 20-year old plan that, according to City Manager Marc Maxwell, is now outdated due to growth in the city.
Ian Lockwood, right, discusses Comprehensive Planning with Clayton McGraw, center, and others during Monday night community meeting. Each table recorded their desires for the city during the meeting.
Lockwood, who designed Main Street, Connally Street, and Celebration Plaza, told those present that his team would spend the Tuesday through Thursday gathering information and developing preliminary plans and would later, his target date in July, submit a draft for review and change and then later submit a final Comprehensive Plan.
He stated that there are three things that were identified for the city—walk-ability, vision, predictability. Walk-ability is in place and expanding. Walk-ability was a key to the development of Main Street, Celebration Plaza and is expanding with the creation of a trail from Coleman Park to Celebration Plaza. He said vision began to happen when the plaza and streets around downtown began to change. He provided pictures of the changes that in some respects were stunning as the look of downtown has changed.
Lockwood also pointed out that other cities in the region are talking about Sulphur Springs and now people from all over the region are visiting the city to eat and shop downtown.
Now the Comprehensive Plan will turn to land use, transportation, and public facilities. He stated that development at the airport, underground utilities and public works, the thermos mine/park area development, frontage roads, Houston School grounds, trail system that is in process, town branch development, and downtown west, a higher density housing plan, are on the table for discussion and implementation. He noted there are areas of the city that are underused such as vacant properties that await infill development.
A survey of citizens prior to the meeting received 600 responses. Lockwood stated that was a higher percentage that most cities receive. He noted that the responses not only looked to development but also stated the desire to retain community values and community context. He said that the top two places to go in the survey were restaurants/bars and churches. Top desires also included providing a variety of housing options, architectural design to complement existing buildings and providing infrastructure that would allow for more bicycle paths and accessibility.
Four questions were presented to those attending Monday night. Those attending worked in groups around tables as they through through the questions.
- What values should influence the future?’
- What do you like or wish to preserve?
- What do you dislike and want to change?
- What is missing that you would like to see created?
Residents along College Street stated that family and legacy were important. Maintaining and protecting the advances in the downtown area and protecting single family neighborhoods were also important.
For many, signage along streets and entrances to the city and to the downtown area were points of concern. The desire to provide an eye-delighting entrance to improvements already made was on the front burner of thought. Also noted was the need for more sidewalks, a recycling program, re-purpose the train station, add a natatorium for swimming, and the city acquire Heritage Park to maintain. More green-space, an arts district, community gardens, neighborhood communities, better broadband infrastructure and more vocational and job training centers were also on the list of many.
Tuesday morning, City Manager Marc Maxwell sat down with KSST News to review the event. Maxwell said it was everything he hoped it would be and more. He was surprised by the turn out but pleased with participation. He noted that many have seen their ideas put in place recognize the reward for their effort. Maxwell said the Comprehensive Plan will assist the city as growth continues. He stated that when new development comes, the plan will guide in the process and be welcoming.
The development group met with utility and others Tuesday and will host an open studio Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Citizens are welcome to visit with planners during those times. It is a come and go time with no agenda for the time.
Don’t Be Late for Eighth Judicial District Court
Ladarius Devonte Thomas, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee failed to appear at the appointment time Monday for arraignment in Eighth Judicial District Court. Thomas is charged with Money Laundering more than $2500 but less than $30,000 in a March 25, 2017 arrest.
When he did appear, he was arrested and placed in Hopkins County Jail. His original bond was $15,000 for the money laundering. His bond now is $30,000.
