Hopkins County Hospital District Board Of Directors Meeting
Hopkins County Hospital District will consider appointing a new member to the board and the process to employ a new Operations Manager for the Hospital District during their Board of Directors Meeting Tonight, June 27, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Plaza Conference Room. The board member seat is open following Ralph Preus’ term ending and no one filing for the place.
In other action, the board will consider purchasing Dell computers and ICU Beds for the hospital. They will also consider adding non budgeted items including a Ultrasound for OR and Anesthesia and Endoscopes testing system. Purchases will also be considered for the clinic. Desktops and laptop computers, along with wheelchairs for the clinic are on the agenda. A remodel and furniture for the Residency Program Office will also be considered.
Patient Care Services Core Polices will be considered for the Emergency Department Triage, Grievance Process, Pain Management, and Critical Values. A report on the Nursing Homes that are aligned with the hospital will also be heard.
Doug Bakenhaus, Symphony Conductor
For 14 years, you’ve seen this familiar face emceeing and conducting from the podium during the annual Independence Symphony Concerts in Sulphur Springs, coaxing and wringing the utmost energy and passion from every player on the stage. Who is this artist and where does he come from? Let’s find out a bit more about the man.
Meet Dr. Douglas Bakenhaus, Music Director and Conductor of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He teaches bassoon, music theory, aural skills and conducting. His music degrees are from University of Texas at Austin (Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music Education) and from Texas A and M University-Commerce (Master of Music) with additional graduate courses in conducting at University of Michigan. He served as Music Director of the Austin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001 til 2004, and began as conductor of the Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra in 2002. He also taught music in high schools and universities earlier in his career.
How did he get started in such a unique career? Well, he attributes it to a school visit by an orchestra when he was in 4th grade in the Houston area. He remembers watching the bows of the violins at work, and the sound that the various instruments made. The next year, a band director came to his 5th grade classroom and asked for students interested in band. At first he hesitated, but at the last minute asked permission by the teacher to go with the group. He found himself playing clarinet in 6th grade band and in 8th grade, became the band’s only bassoon player. As an Aldine High School senior, his band director suggested he attended an audition for bassoon scheduled by the University of Texas. He did, earned a scholarship, and began undergraduate studies at UT Austin. Then, because of the need to produce more income for his young family, he dropped his studies and for about 10 years taught public high school orchestra. In time, he found his way to East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas and assisted Gary Hill, Band Director at the time who would become one of the most important mentors in his professional life. Later after earning his doctorate, he landed the position of Music Director and Conductor of the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra at Natchitoches. About this same time, he became involved with the Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra’s annual Children’s Concert, and later was hired as conductor. He followed Scott York, the original conductor and the one who recruited Bakenhaus for the position. He has seen the Symphony go from a three-town ownership to being managed solely by the Sulphur Springs Symphony League. During this year’s 25th anniversary year of the orchestra, he applauds the League’s devotion to providing this caliber of music for the community.
Today, Dr. Bakenhaus teaches full time at Northwestern Louisiana University, also appearing as guest conductor and clinician with orchestras in numerous countries including Canada, Honduras, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. He is frequently called upon to adjudicate and clinic orchestra festivals, band festivals, and solo/ensemble festivals across the U.S. and abroad. For him, the chance involvement with orchestra music at an early age, plus the knowledge that students who play instruments in school earn higher test scores, keep his passion fresh and alive for bringing music to public school children everywhere that he can. Invite your family and friends to the free public concert on Saturday July 2 in downtown Sulphur Springs and “let freedom ring” with orchestra music and fireworks!
Dr. Bakenhaus conducting the Austin Baroche Orchestra in 2016 and in Sulphur Springs with the Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra in 2015.
Animal of the Week: Tux
Tux is a mixed breed dog with a little bit of Pit Bull in him, but not much. He’s about a year old, and is very friendly. “He’s a sweet boy and gets along with everyone.” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. His cheerful laid-back attitude is evident as he sits patiently at Officer Blanch’s feet, waiting to go for a walk. Tux was found in the road, off the Church Street loop, about two and a half weeks ago.
Officer Blanch recommends him to families with older kids due to his energetic and fun-loving personality. Although he doesn’t like going inside kennels, he is extremely loyal. Officer Blanch described an instance where “he got loose, ran around the yard, and sat back at the front door.” Tux would be perfect for a family with a large yard and freedom to roam.
The Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter currently is home to 34 animals. They accept mostly cats and dogs, and just about anything but livestock. For more information on how to adopt a pet, visit their Website or Facebook page.
Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter
9a.m.-5p.m. Mon-Fri
1313 Hillcrest Drive
903-438-9369
Twenty-Three Unlocked Vehicles Vandalized Over Weekend
“Help me help you” a quote by Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry McGuire is the request of Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders. Over the weekend 23 unlocked auto doors were opened and theft of property occurred according to Sanders. He is asking Sulphur Springs citizens to lock their car doors at night.
The thefts are occurring at night and over the weekend the area bounded by Carter, Jefferson, and I-30 saw the most activity. Sanders said that one auto whose door was opened had an in-the-box new Glock AR sitting in the front seat that was not taken. He says those breaking into the unlocked autos are only taking loose change, cell phones, and other small value items. Locked autos are not being molested.
Sanders says that if people will just lock the doors to their autos it will limit the thefts. He said that perhaps one of the individuals involved in the burglaries was involved in a late night incident this week. A resident reported a man entering his backyard and the enclosed porch area of his home and banging on his back door. It seems the man had entered the backyard while seeing a vehicle approach and immediately came into contact with the resident’s dog. The dog pursued the man and he made his way to the door where he was seeking relief from the dog tearing at his legs.
Commissioner’s Court to Consider Agreement for Right of Way Funds on Highway 11 Project
Hopkins County Commissioners Court will consider approving an agreement to contribute right of way funds for the project from State Highway 11 from 6 miles East of FM 2653 to Highway 19 and consider the donation of the Haz-Mat Trailer to the Paris Fire Department when they meet Monday at 9 a.m. for their regular session in the Commissioner’s Courtroom on the first floor of the county courthouse, 118 Church Street.
Also on the agenda, the court will consider an resolution to designate managerment/consulting and engineering service providers for the Hazard Mitigation Fund Project for Application Preparation and Project Implementation. Other regular business is also on the agenda.
SSISD Summer Maintenance Work
Sulphur Springs Independent School District has many maintenance jobs underway in preparation for the next school year. One of the most exciting for high school students is the changes being made the student parking lot. The parking lot is being repaved and repainted, due to the stripes 50-100 new spots will be added. The re-pavement will extend to the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, Ag Extension Building, and the Southwest Dairy Museum. Also at the high school, a drainage issue is being addressed behind the new tennis courts. The Tech Center is receiving lots of love and attention to make the building ready for full time high school classes next year. Office areas of the Tech Center have been repainted and are being re-carpeted. A landscape project between the Tech Center and Civic Center Auditorium is taking place this week.
The unsightly dirt patch where Houston school was previously located on College St. is expected to receive a face lift soon with sod. Every summer, the floors of each school are stripped and waxed. Each school also receives paint in places inside the school as well as on the exterior. A few fencing projects will also take place at various campuses.
Volleyball, Soccer Camps Begin Monday
The Sulphur Springs ISD will be offering volleyball and soccer camps next week. Both will be run by new head coaches here. After ten years as the head volleyball coach at Paris Junior College, Justin Maness, the new Lady Cats Volleyball Coach, will have camp Monday through Wednesday in the main high school gym. Actually there are two camps: one for girls entering the fourth through the seventh grades will take place each day from 9 a.m. until noon and one for girls entering the eighth or ninth grades will occur from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. each day Cost to attend is $50.
New Wildcats Soccer Coach Nicky Wiggins will also be having a soccer camp for boys and girls next week. It’s an evening camp and will take place Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. It’s for boys and girls entering kindergarten through twelfth grade. Cost for this camp is $55. Camp information and registration information is available on the school district website at www.ssisd.net. Campers can also be signed up on the first day of camp Monday.
Jallah Named PJC Soccer Coach
Paris Junior College has named Sylvester Jallah its new soccer coach to take the helm of the men’s and women’s soccer programs.
Jallah brings experience to the college as both coach and player. Both PJC soccer teams are in Division I in the National Junior College Athletic Association.
“I am excited for the new opportunity,” said Jallal. “I look forward to continuing to add to the rich and successful history of Paris Junior College. I understand the demands and expectations that are required to create and sustain a successful program. As teams we are going to accomplish these through our work ethic, dedication and success in academics. I understand the first year is the most challenging year, but I look forward to the task.”
Coach Jallah comes to PJC after serving as the assistant men’s soccer coach at the University of Texas – Tyler for the past three years. AT Tyler the team was runner-up in the American Southwest Conference, and most recently went 20-10-7. The program there was also recognized as an NSCAA academic program for two consecutive years.
“We are very pleased to bring Coach Jallah to Paris and to Paris Junior
College,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “We look forward to soccer season and Coach Jallah and his wife becoming part of the PJC family and part of the community.”
Prior to UT Tyler, Jallah was soccer coach at Killeen High School in Killeen, Texas where he helped lead the Kangaroos to a 65-15-5 overall record from 2007 to 2013. Killeen made the playoffs for four straight seasons, from 2008 to 2011, with Jallah picking up District Coach of the Year honors in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 for Class 5A, Region 3. He led the team to make history for the school by making five consecutive playoff runs.
Jallah played for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the American Southwest Conference, and served as assistant there from 2006 to 2007. He has also played soccer with the Austin Aztecs, the Olympic Development Program in Bitburg, Germany and FC Bamberg.
Jallah finished his Bachelor of Science at UMHB, and holds a Masters of Science in Math from Texas A&M University. He is currently working on a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas – Tyler.
Jallah holds the following soccer certifications: USSF B License; NSCAA Premier Diploma; National Youth Diploma; and NSCAAS Advanced National Diploma.
For more information about PJC’s soccer program, call 903-782-0218.
Sneak Peek at the Wesley House’s New Units
The Wesley Assisted Living House has opened the doors to their newest cottages. Recently the Wesley house added 12 new units to their community. They have a mix of one bedroom and two bedroom cottages, that are filling up fast! The cottages include dark hardwood floors, Frigidaire appliances, patios, and 1 car garages! Due to the high demand, they only have four, 2-bedroom apartments left for $2500 a month and one, single bedroom apartment left for $1500 a month.
The Wesley House Assisted Living offers a wide variety of additional services such as “a full service beauty shop”, weekly house cleaning and trash pick up, as well as transportation to local shops and medical centers. If you are interested in joining the quiet community at the Wesley House call or stop by to schedule a tour.
Wesley House Assisted Living
1044 Church Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
www.wesleyseniorliving.com/sulphur-wesley-house.htm
Phone: 903-439-0529
Fax: 903-439-0549
