Sitting Pretty at the Gardens at Memorial
September 14, 2023 – Sulphur Springs, TX – In 2006, the project of the very first Hopkins County Health Care Foundation Lights of Life Gala was to fund the establishment of the Gardens at Memorial. The gardens were intended as a quiet place for patient families to sit or walk the meandering pathway in order to think, pray, reflect, or just relax.
It took two years and two Galas and other fundraising projects to pay for the beautiful park that flanks the hospital building. Back then, the hospital was owned by the Hopkins County Hospital District and was named Memorial Hospital.
In 2016, the Hospital District partnered with CHRISTUS Health to establish what is now known as CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The Gardens have continued to be a vital part of the CMF-SS campus, with the hospital keeping the grounds well-maintained.
The Gardens at Memorial have been a healing place since they were established. They not only serve the families of hospital patients, but are often a favorite spot for hospital associates, as well as the EMS staff, to regroup. Caregivers of all types find respite in the Gardens.
Dotting the walking track are several benches which were donated in honor of or in memory of individuals. Additionally, plaques are often installed to memorialize and recognize community members, family members, and Hospital Auxiliary volunteers. There is even a soothing water feature on one end of the rectangular shaped park.
At the July meeting of the Foundation board, the directors heard a request from CMF-SS President and CEO Paul Harvey asking for financial support to replace the wooden benches. The original benches were worn beyond repair. The proposal was approved, and the new benches, bearing the original placards, have been installed. Now families and staff members once again have a place to sit, to reflect, to rejuvenate, and to soak in the beauty of nature.
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation was founded in 1997 and is an IRS designated 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
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Photo – Gardens 2: The Gardens at Memorial provide a serene and beautiful place for hospital patients, families, and staff.
Photo – Gardens 3: A new replacement bench at the Gardens at Memorial. The new benches were provided by the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
Appointments are Now Open for the Annual Free Mammography Clinic
September 14, 2023 – Hopkins County Health Care Foundation and Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Partner for their Annual Free Mammography Clinic
Sulphur Springs, TX – The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs are once again partnering to offer a free mammography clinic for uninsured women in Hopkins County.
This year, the clinic will be bigger and better! At the request of the Foundation board of directors, 60 free mammogram appointments will be available on three Saturdays in October. That is up from the usual 40 free mammograms offered on two Saturday in October.
The 2023 clinic will be held on Saturday, October 14, Saturday, October 21, and Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Appointments will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must be uninsured women over 40 years of age and reside in Hopkins County.
The clinic is made possible by part of the proceeds of the fourth annual Designer Handbag Bingo held in August as well as donations made by individuals to help fund this much needed clinic.
The clinic will be held at the Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center, a part of the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. This facility was opened in 2020 and features the latest equipment and technology to better serve Hopkins County. Mammograms will be performed on the 3D machine for the greatest of accuracy.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and a good time for women to schedule their mammograms. The Foundation wants to make sure that more women have an opportunity to have a mammogram, and that is why this has become an annual outreach program.
Eligible women wishing to be included in the free mammogram clinic should call 903-438-4325 to make an appointment as soon as possible. The spaces fill quickly each year.
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation was founded in 1997 and is an IRS designated 501 (c) 3 non-profit that is governed by an independent board of directors.
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Photo: The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Free Mammography Clinic will be held at the Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center, a part of the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs.
TxDOT Seeks Input on US 82 Texas Corridor Study
Highway spans all of Texas from Arkansas to New Mexico
September 14, 2023 – PARIS – TxDOT is working to shape the future for one of the most important highways in the Paris area, and public input is crucial as the agency looks to meet the transportation needs of tomorrow.
TxDOT is conducting an online survey Sept. 11 – Oct. 18, asking the public for their input and perspective on US 82, which stretches across Texas for more than 570 miles from Arkansas to New Mexico.
The survey, part of TxDOT’s US 82 Texas Corridor Study, will give the public an important voice in shaping the future of US 82 and the many communities it serves. The corridor study is looking for ways to keep up with the state’s growing population, increasing traffic and booming economy.
The study examines currently planned transportation projects and analyzes additional safety, connectivity, bottlenecks, and other mobility needs along US 82 in Texas. The results of the survey will help TxDOT identify potential improvement needs and prioritize plans, policies, programs and projects.
The study will consider the following key elements to identify and prioritize proposed projects along the corridor:
- Safety
- Mobility & Congestion
- System Connectivity
- Multimodal Passenger & Freight
Click here to take the survey and find out more about the US 82 Texas Corridor Study. The survey is also available in Spanish.
You Like Spicy Peppers? Prove it!
On October 28, 2023, at 3:00 pm at 208 Market Street, Winnsboro TX 75494, Autumn Trails is hosting a Chili Pepper Eating Contest.
(My eyes are sweating just typing this out.)
Up to 10 Contestants will be admitted. A wait list will be made in the event people drop out…
There will be ten rounds of eating hot chili peppers in increasing levels of spiciness. If there is more than one person left after 10 rounds, the contest will continue with as many rounds as needed in a hot sauce chug, increasing in spiciness in each round until there is a winner.
Entry Fee: $35 per person (non-refundable)
Prize Money:
1st Place – 50% of Entry Fees up to $ 175
2nd Place – 35% of Entry Fees up to $ 120
3rd Place – 15% of Entry Fees up to $ 50
FDA Says Popular Decongestant is Not Effective
September 13, 2023 – The Food and Drug Administration’s independent Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Sept. 12 by unanimous vote declared oral phenylephrine ineffective as a decongestant. Phenylephrine is a common active ingredient in over-the-counter medications sold under the Nyquil, Tylenol, Advil, Robitussin, Sudafed and Benadryl brands, to name a few. FDA is not bound to the committee’s recommendations, but the agency’s own analysis presented prior to the panel’s meeting concluded that oral phenylephrine formulations are safe but ineffective at standard or even higher doses. The vote paves the way for products containing oral phenylephrine potentially being pulled from shelves until reformulated versions are offered. That would likely force consumers to switch to the behind-the-counter pseudoephedrine products or to phenylephrine-based nasal sprays and drops.
Paris Junior College Has Staff on Hand to Assist With Enrollment
PJC-Sulphur Spring Center Adult Education Advisor Amy Green, right, assists Kalliope Hedden of Sulphur Springs as she completes paperwork for enrollment into college. For more information about enrollment, call the campus at 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Former Sulphur Springs DPS Officer Named First Female Ranger Major in 200 Year History
September 12, 2023 – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces the promotion of Texas Ranger Captain Wende O. Wakeman to the rank of major, making her the first female Ranger major in the organization’s storied two-hundred-year history.
“Major Wende Wakeman’s years of hard work, her tremendous strength of character and her unwavering determination have all led her to this moment,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I cannot think of someone more deserving, nor can I think of a better role model for so many to be able to follow as she continues to pave the way.”
As of Sept. 1, 2023, Wakeman now serves as the major of Texas Ranger Company “F” stationed in Waco. As Ranger major, Wakeman oversees 27 Rangers and three lieutenants across the region that spans just south of Dallas to south of San Antonio, encompassing the central part of the state.
“It is an unbelievable honor to have the opportunity to serve the citizens of this great state and to lead my fellow Texas Rangers in this capacity,” said Major Wakeman. “This moment in Ranger history is only possible because of the dedication and the sacrifice of so many that have come before, along with the incredible strides made by this organization over the years. I will strive to do my very best to represent the men and women of this department every day.”
Wakeman first joined DPS more than two decades ago in 1998. She was a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Sulphur Springs and New Caney before being promoted to narcotics sergeant in 2003. In 2008, Wakeman joined the Texas Rangers in Conroe. In 2014, she was promoted to lieutenant and was stationed in Laredo, marking the first time in agency history that a woman was promoted to the rank of Ranger lieutenant. She transferred to Huntsville in 2015. In 2020, Wakeman promoted to the rank of captain. She served at Texas Ranger Headquarters in Austin until this most recent promotion. During her time at Ranger Headquarters, Wakeman oversaw the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Program. SAKI is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to assist with furthering collection of offender DNA and the investigation and prosecution of cold case sexually related homicides and sexual assault cases, including violent serial sex offenders.
Wakeman is a graduate of the National Forensics Academy, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute and the DPS Command College. She is a TCOLE Instructor and has provided instruction to DPS recruits and Texas Rangers in the fields of Case Management and Crime Scene Investigation. Wakeman has also completed the FBI Leadership Trilogy, and the LEMIT – Leadership Inventory for Female Executives (L.I.F.E.) course and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.
About the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers specialize in investigating major crime incidents (such as murders, sexual assaults and kidnappings), unsolved and serial crimes, public corruption, crimes against children, officer-involved shootings and border security operations. The Rangers also oversee specialized law enforcement teams within DPS, including the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, Special Response Teams, Ranger Reconnaissance Team, Crisis Negotiations Unit and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit.
In 2023, the Texas Rangers celebrate 200 years of service. You can learn more about the Texas Rangers on the DPS website.
Candidates for the November 7th, 2023 District 2 Election
Below is a list of the current candidates for the November 7, 2023 District 2 Election. Part of Texas including Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt Counties have been unrepresented since Bryan Slaton was removed on May 9th, 2023. The Texas House unanimously voted to remove him.
Early voting will begin Monday, October 23, 2023.
Kristen Washington
Democratic Party
Jill Dutton
Republican Party
Heath Hyde
Republican Party
Brent Money
Republican Party
Doug Roszhart
Republican Party
Krista Schild
Republican Party
TAMUC Science and Engineering Dean Builds Bridges for STEM Success
COMMERCE, TX—As a young girl growing up in rural Lee County, South Carolina, Dr. Andrea Toney Graham had “big dreams of doing big things.” Since then, she has blazed a pioneering trail through the STEM field, making a lasting impact through her scholarship and leadership.
Graham was the first engineer from her household and the first African American to earn a doctorate in industrial engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). At Texas A&M University-Commerce, she was the first junior faculty member in the Department of Engineering and Technology to earn tenure and the first female tapped to lead the department. In Spring 2023, she became the first African American female to be named dean of the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce.
Gearing Up
Graham’s parents both worked in manufacturing, sparking her early interest in STEM. The youngest of four, she shadowed her father and brother, tinkering around the house and “taking apart bicycles and everything else.”
She discovered her passion for engineering during her family’s monthly—sometimes weekly—trips to watch air shows at Shaw Air Force Base in nearby Sumter, South Carolina.
“I would sit there for hours, watching the planes take off and land, thinking about how fascinating it was,” she said. “When I got to college, my major was aerospace engineering because I thought I wanted to be a pilot!”
Graham began studying aerospace engineering at Tuskegee University in Alabama, where she uncovered her determination to succeed as a female in a male-dominated field. After struggling in an engineering drafting course, a professor said she wouldn’t make it as an engineer.
“I took that as a challenge,” she said. “I found my wings, my identity. Hope and resilience became my armor.”
While completing her undergraduate work, Graham interned with global aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. During her internship, several mentors speculated that mechanical engineering would offer a broader range of opportunities than the limited confines of the aerospace industry. After majoring in both subjects for a few semesters, she dropped aerospace and went on to graduate at the top of her class with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
She moved to Basking Ridge, New Jersey, in 1996 after landing a job at AT&T.
During her time with the company, Graham worked as a mechanical engineer, managing the lifecycle functions of building elements and developing corporate standards for HVAC system design and maintenance, overseeing multi-million-dollar programs focused on infrastructure repair and replacement and specializing in alarms monitoring and controls for domestic and international infrastructure.
She earned her master’s degree in technology management from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2004.
Career 2.0: From Industry to Academia
After a decade in the private sector, Graham felt something was missing from her career. She liked working in industry but wanted to make a more tangible impact.
She left AT&T in 2004 and moved back to South Carolina to help with her ailing father. She began exploring a second career in education and enrolled at Clemson University to pursue a doctorate in industrial engineering.
Following her father’s passing, she moved to Texas so she and her husband could access better work opportunities. She enrolled at UTA in 2008, became an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow and completed her doctorate in industrial engineering in 2012. She worked as an adjunct instructor at UTA for a short time before accepting a teaching position in the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce in 2013.
Building Representative Spaces in STEM
In her new role, Graham set out to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
“We’re committed to building purposeful relationships, working together with industry leaders in applied sciences to help them gain a competitive edge and offer experiential learning opportunities for our students,” she said.
She also noticed that first-generation and underrepresented STEM students lacked the family and social support systems to access and succeed in higher education. She recognized the importance of creating representative spaces that inspire these populations to envision themselves succeeding in STEM careers.
To address this issue, Graham worked to acquire funding for middle school girls to attend camps designed to encourage their interest in STEM subjects and careers. Today, she continues her efforts to increase the percentage of females who pursue STEM careers and remain in academia. “There are a lot of places to be for women with a Ph.D.,” Graham said. “We’re doing a better job recruiting young ladies into the field but keeping them in academia is another thing because they don’t see many women in this space.”
Challenging the Status Quo
Graham is committed to challenging the expectations for women and minorities in engineering. She said people are accustomed to seeing women in the hard sciences but not so much in the engineering spaces, especially in leadership positions. She recalled several times when someone would dismissively look over her, refusing to acknowledge that she belonged in the engineering workspace.
“I’ve noticed that I have to be bold in these spaces,” Graham said. “I work in an industry full of men, so I’ve learned to be assertive. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.”
She said the rewards are worth the challenges.
“The best reward is knowing that I’m contributing and bringing my perspective to the table,” Graham said. “Nobody is lessened because I’m in the space, and nobody is more because I’m there. We make each other better.”
She added: “That’s the leadership I want to bring to the table. I want everyone in the space. I want faculty, staff and students to reach their full potential. If you’ve taken the time to come to this space and you’re giving it your earnest time and effort, you should see a return. That’s what I want to see happen for everyone.”
Growing STEM at A&M-Commerce
Graham aims for A&M-Commerce to gain regional and national recognition for its STEM-forward curriculum and impactful faculty- and student-led research. She hopes current and future Lions will help further integrate diversity, accessibility, collaboration and responsive innovation into STEM fields.
She believes the College of Science and Engineering holds the potential to serve as a cornerstone for growth at A&M-Commerce. She encourages faculty to harness innovations around artificial intelligence, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energies, and biotechnology to help advance medicine, infrastructure and other industries.
“That’s what we are here to do … solve problems and make people’s lives better,” Graham said.
Life and Career Advice
Noting the same insecurities she once felt, Graham advises students to believe in themselves and take risks. She remembers the difficult decision to leave the safety and success she experienced at AT&T.
“I learned that money is good but not all money is good money,” she said. “Chase what you’re passionate about and the rest will fall into place.”
Graham recalls fondly the warm calls and messages she received from her Tuskegee classmates after she was named dean of the College of Science and Engineering at A&M-Commerce.
“They reminded me that I manifested this back in 1994,” she said. “Back then, I proclaimed that I would be a dean of engineering someday!”
Staying Grounded
Despite her accolades, Graham said she is still the same small-town girl who dreamed of working in aviation. Her husband, Andrew, and three sons, Joshua, Matthew and Elijah, are her biggest supporters. They remind her each day that she is equipped to do great things.
“I knew I was interested in STEM, but didn’t think it was possible for me,” Graham said. “But with hard work and dedication, it became possible. Now I am working to build bridges that open doors for other young people who dream of becoming engineers and scientists.”
As for her next big accomplishment, Graham said her ultimate dream is to become a university president. If history is any guide, she’s sure to make that happen, too.
About Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to Educate. Discover. Achieve. With an enrollment of 10,754 students, A&M-Commerce is the fourth-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. Students choose from among 135+ academic degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels and learn from world-class faculty who conduct nationally recognized research. A vibrant student experience includes a thriving Greek community and more than 100 student-led organizations. As a member of the Southland Conference, A&M-Commerce features 14 NCAA Division I athletic teams. The university offers classes online and on-site in Commerce, Corsicana, McKinney, Frisco, Mesquite, Bryan (RELLIS) and the newest location at 8750 North Central Expressway in Dallas.
Would You Like Some Peanut Butter with Your Twinkies?
September 11, 2023 – The J.M. Smucker company, otherwise known as Smucker’s, has gobbled up the Hostess Snack Company in a $5.6 billion deal. Smucker’s distributes Jif peanut butter as well as a wide array of jellies and preserves, and now will own the Hostess signature product Twinkie alongside Ding Dongs, Ho-Hos, and Sno-Balls.
Smucker’s will be adding to their assortment of products from pet food Meow Mix to Folgers coffee as the company was worth an estimated $14.6 billion before the acquisition and now adds a plethora of sugary snacks including cup cakes and frosted donuts.
