Softball World Series
Two Hopkins County Dixie softball teams will start World Series play in Alexandria, Louisiana on Saturday. Both the 9 and 10 year old Hopkins County Angels and the 11 and 12 year old Hopkins County Pony Tails won Texas State Championship tournaments and will be playing in Louisiana. The Angels open up against North Carolina Saturday at 9 a.m. The Pony Tails will open against Macon, Georgia also at 9 a.m. Saturday. The Angels are coached by Terry Johns, C.W. Morris and Josh Redar while the Pony Tails coaches are Jarred Pickett, Aaron Hohenburger and Matt Potts.
Freshmen Band Day
stock photo
Friday was a special day for freshmen who will be a part of this school year’s Wildcats Marching Band. Band Director Charles McCauley expects the ninth graders to total about 40 this year. McCauley says by the end of the day Friday, he hopes the freshmen will feel like the band is a place where they belong. He says he wants them to feel they have a new family at the high school. To help make the freshmen more comfortable, the band sections leadership team was on hand. McCauley says he wants the ninth graders to enjoy themselves despite the hard work required. McCauley says the Friday session will cover a lot of ground including the band hand book, rules and fundamentals. McCauley says the band has 22 fundamentals and he hopes they get through at least ten by the end of the day. He says he wants the ninth graders to have pride in being a band member. McCauley says the band is all about FEETDIPP or fun, excellence, excitement, togetherness, discipline, intensity, pride and potential. He says the session is designed to give the freshmen confidence as they join the full band for their first practice Monday.
Sulphur Springs High School Senior Information
Sulphur Springs High School counselors will be available August 1- 12 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and 1 p.m.-4p.m. for 2016-2017 high school seniors. Seniors will review their senior schedule, transcript, etc. Appointments are not necessary, students will be seen on a first come first serve basis. On August 11th, counselors will stay until 7 p.m. for those who cannot attend earlier meetings. Senior pictures are scheduled through Prestige Portraits for August 9th and 10th in the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center. A time must be set up through Prestige Portraits by calling 903-581-4321. Also, any student taking PJC classes that meet on PJC’s campus must receive a meningitis vaccination.
Gearing Up for 4-H Enrollment
Gearing Up for 4-H Enrollment:
It’s that time of year again! A new school year is rapidly approaching, so that means that a new 4-H year is also getting underway. We want everyone to know what it’s all about!
What is 4-H? It is a national organization which help young people develop life-long knowledge and skills to become engaged citizens. Through 4-H, youth are taught skills for living. It is a model of the “learn by doing” teaching concept and reaches people in their own communities.
The 4-H program is a voluntary, non-formal, educational program offered to all youth regardless of race, color, national origin, residence, or handicap. The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is conducted by Texas AgriLife Extension Service, which is a part of the Texas A&M University System. 4-H serves youth in all 254 counties in Texas, and all 50 states in the US.
Young people learn about citizenship, leadership, foods and nutrition, healthy lifestyles, veterinary sciences, technology, horticulture, agriculture, and other subjects. Projects involve goal-setting and accomplishment. Skills and knowledge learned in 4-H project work help members become more engaged individuals.
What are the four “H’s?” The 4-H pledge explains it:
I pledge
My Head to clearer thinking,
My Heart to greater loyalty,
My Hands to larger service,
And My Health to better living for
My Club, my community,
My country, and my world.
The 4-H Motto is “To make the best better” and the 4-H Slogan is “Learn by doing.”
Who are 4-H members? Today’s 4-H’ers are boys and girls from 3rd thru 12th grades. They live in cities, on farms, and in suburban neighborhoods. They join 4-H because it is fun, it provides opportunities to work and play with friends, to learn about and do interesting things, and to develop leadership skills. Contrary to popular belief, you DO NOT have to show animals to be in 4-H. As a matter of fact, over 50% of our current Hopkins County 4-H members don’t have animal projects. The most popular 4-H project is foods & nutrition, followed closely by shooting sports. Photography, robotics, clothing & textiles, leadership, health, public speaking, and animal projects -plus many more – mean that there is something for everyone in 4-H!
How much does it cost? 4-H has a participation cost of $20 (before November 1st of each year) to $25 (November 1st and after) to join. Some projects might have a related cost – like, if you want to do a clothing project, you’ll want to pick out your own fabric, or if you want to do photography, you’ll need a camera and money to get pictures developed.
How do you join 4-H? Enrollment for the 2016/2017 year will be open starting mid-August. The 4-H year goes from September 1st and August 31st. Enrollment is done on-line at http://texas4honline.com, or you can drop by our office and we’ll help you! You can call us at 903-885-3443 and we’ll be glad to help you. When you enroll, you will need to select a club (see below) and pick at least three projects. This does not obligate you to participate in those projects, but I lets us know which ones to focus on! Adult leaders and parents are welcome to serve as project leaders!! We’ll help you!
Which clubs are available? 4-H clubs usually meet once per month (except during summer months when we have multi-county 4-H camp, 4-H project tour day, and 4-H Achievement Banquet). Below are the clubs, locations, dates, and contact persons:
– Arbala Harvest 4-H: meets 3rd Monday at Arbala Community Center, 6:00 p.m. (contact Ginger Bartley)
– Dike 4-H: meets 1st Saturday at Dike Community Center, 10:00 a.m. (contact Margarett McDonald)
– Infinity 4-H: meets 2nd Monday at the Hopkins County Extension Office (contact Jeremy Bridges or Kathy Lennon)
– Miller Grove 4-H: meets 1st Tuesday at Miller Grove School, 3:d0 p.m. (contact Farri George or Cherri Bessonett)
– Paws 4-H: meets 3rd Thursday at Sulphur Springs Elementary School (grades 3 & 4), 3:15 p.m. (contact Shelby Gibson)
Our staff consists of two Extension agents (Johanna Hicks – Family & Consumer Sciences, and Mario Villarino – Ag & Natural Resources)and one office administrator (Barbara Sanders). You can call us at 903-885-3443 and we’ll be glad to help you!
Closing Thought
Just one person saying, “You’ve made my day!” makes my day – Andy Rooney
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Early Registration for PJC Fall Semester Underway
PREPARING FOR FALL Ricardo Yanez of Sulphur Springs, a second year student at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center, is registering for fall semester classes with the help of Dr. Phil Williams, director of the Sulphur Springs campus. Yanez is working toward a construction engineering degree. Early registration for the fall semester, which begins on Aug. 29, is underway. For further information call 903-885-1232 or go by the campus at 1137 East Loop 301.
Toddler Found Walking County Road Alone; Mom Jailed
Deputies responded to a call in reference to a two (2) to three (3) year old child who was found walking by himself down County Road 1138 near Cumby Thursday morning. Approximately 30 minutes later the mother of the child, Ashlee Michele Swilling, 27, was contacted.
Swilling stated that she had noticed the child missing at approximately 7:30 a.m. and had been looking for him. She did not contact law enforcement until 8:30 a.m.
Swilling is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Abandon Endanger Child Criminal Negligence, a state jail felony. The child is currently in the custody of his grandmother per Child Protective Services and at the request of Swilling.
Stole and Sold His Mother’s Ring; Hid Drugs in Her House
Called to a disturbance at a residence on FM 2297, Hopkins County Deputies were told that Taylor Wayne Connatser, 22, of Sachse, had hidden drugs in his mother’s house. Both his mother and his girlfriend told the officer that methamphetamine was in the residence. The disturbance began over a ring that Connatser stolen from his mother and sold in Mesquite.
Connatser had told his mother that he would hide the meth in case she called the cops, according to the deputy’s report. In the area where Connatser and his girlfriend were staying, the deputy found paraphernalia including a broken meth pipe, a light bulb used to smoke meth, and other items. Methamphetamine was located in Connatser’s vehicle.
Connatser admitted to stealing the ring and selling it. He also admitted ownership of the methamphetamine. He is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1, under 1-gram and with Theft of Property over $2,500 and less than $30,000. His girlfriend was also arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Dynamic Duo Music & Comedy Showcase Benefits Down Syndrome Awareness
This Friday July 29th at Hopkins County Civic Center, The Dynamic Duo and Comedy Showcase! This showcase is for benefiting down syndrome.
The Admission is $10, $5 for children 6 years- 12 years, and children 5 years and under are free!
This Showcase features Jacoby Smith, Cousin Cedrick, Dale “The C” Cummings, Monty Tipps, The Main Street Band and more. There will also be a silent auction.
The doors will be open to purchase tickets at 6 p.m. The showcase starts at 7 p.m. and will be over at 9 p.m.
This is a great time to get out of the house with friends and family to enjoy a awesome showcase.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs Celebrates World Breastfeeding Month
The long-term benefits of breastfeeding for babies and mother are undisputed. Breastfeeding is linked to decreased risk of illness and mortality for infants. It is also associated with reduced risk for maternal illness. It is well documented that maternity practices in infant nutrition and care have a significant impact on a mother’s initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. That means the degree of care that the birthing facility provides to support breastfeeding can have a long-lasting effect on the health of babies born as well as enhance the health and care satisfaction of the patients.
As the number of women who intend to breastfeed rises, families are seeking birthing facilities that support and encourage their efforts to breastfeed. Every delivery is a chance to start a long-term relationship with the birth family. Providing breastfeeding support can deliver long-term benefits to mothers, babies, and our community.
Here at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, we recognize the importance of increased initiation and continuation of breastfeeding in our community. In June of last year, our hospital joined the Texas Breastfeeding Learning Collaborative, where representatives from numerous state organizations were present to support, regulate, and fund the hospital initiative to improve breastfeeding rates statewide. Here we learned that breastfeeding rates in Texas lag behind national averages. The Texas Department of State Health Services has created the Texas Ten Steps initiative, which is an evidence-based guide aimed to help hospitals improve breastfeeding outcomes.
Before this initiative, 70% of women stated that they wanted to breastfeed upon admission, however only 30% were meeting their own breastfeeding goals. After launching the initiative in September 2015, we have seen steady increase in exclusive breastfeeding rates. Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated. In February of this year, our exclusive breastfeeding rate was 70%!
To support improved initiation of breastfeeding rates, all babies are placed skin to skin with their mothers after delivery, unless they are unable to for medical reasons. Babies stay on their mothers’ chest for one hour or until after their first breastfeeding. This special time decreases mom and baby’s anxiety, boosts mom’s confidence in caring for her baby, stabilizes baby’s heart rate, respirations, blood sugar, temperature, and babies cry less! Mothers and fathers are encouraged to continue to place their baby skin to skin with them as much as possible. Babies love it!
We, at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs have made many changes to improve the success rates of moms’ meeting their breastfeeding goals. Some of the changes are listed here: We no longer hand out diaper bags provided by formula companies, no longer give out pacifiers, no longer send mothers home with formula samples, hired a full time lactation nurse, formed a hospital wide breast feeding committee that meets monthly, increased prenatal education regarding breastfeeding and skin to skin, educated our staff on breastfeeding and skin to skin benefits, formed BIBS Community breastfeeding support group that meets monthly and on Facebook, have an outpatient lactation clinic for assistance with breastfeeding after discharge. We also have three Rn nursery nurses planning to take their lactation consultant exam in October. That will make a total of six certified lactation consultants in our community! We offer a free breastfeeding education class the first Monday evening of every month. We are working very closely with our local WIC office to support mothers after discharge.
To celebrate World Breastfeeding Month, we are teaming up with the Sulphur Springs WIC office to host a “Breastfeeding Celebration!” which takes place on August 19 at 1-4 pm in our Memorial Medical Plaza conference room. All pregnant mothers and breastfeeding moms and their families are invited to come have food, games, door prizes, massages, professional photos, and more!
As you can see, we’ve been working very hard in our labor and delivery and nursery department at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital -Sulphur Springs. We encourage you to call for more information on our breastfeeding education class, monthly support group, or breastfeeding celebration event. To contact us, please call (903) 439-4091.
