Hopkins EMS “Strike Team” Deployed on Seven Day Mission
Hopkins County Emergency Medical Services’ Emergency Response Vehicle, two MICU Ambulances, and five paramedics have responded to a Texas Division of Emergency Management SMA request, otherwise known as a State Medical Activation, to assist in evacuation of certain residents of counties inundated with flood waters around Orange, Texas.
The team will be deployed for a seven-day mission. During their deployment, they will be directing, planning, and carrying out any needs established during the event. Among needs served will be moving patients in nursing homes and the home-bound to neighboring facilities and jurisdictions away from the flood zone.
Hopkins County EMS Director Brent Smith spoke about the EMS “Strike Team” with KSST News on Wednesday morning. “We assembled a strike team comprised of two ambulances from Hopkins County and the Strike Team leader which used our Emergency Response Vehicle,” said Smith. “With the compliment of our team, the City of Longview Fire Department, Fairfield EMS, and Paris EMS all sent an ambulance to also assist in any type of evacuations and medical needs in Orange, Texas.”
Smith said that Hopkins County EMS A-Shift Captain Danny Wilburn was activated in a role called MIST which stands for Medical Incident Support Team. Wilburn is serving in a leadership position and working side-by-side with the leaders for the city of Orange to help them facilitate needs for evacuation and to manage 911 calls.
The Hopkins County EMS Strike Team has completed two missions since their arrival, but Smith tells us that details pertaining to the missions remains confidential.
Study Ranks Hopkins County 91st in State for Overall Health Outcomes
Out of 240 counties in Texas Hopkins County ranks 91st in overall health outcomes according to a recent report published by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program. Neighboring Franklin County ranks 15th with Rains at 83, Hunt at 125, Lamar at 199, and Delta at 204. Several factors were noted in the study. Franklin County, according to the report, only outscored Hopkins County on length of life, education percentages and children in poverty. Rains County slightly outscored Hopkins in the education percentage and Health care costs.
For Hopkins County residents, length of life rates 112th out of the 240 counties. That means that 111 counties have a longer life span among residents than does Hopkins. Premature death (living to an average age, not specific child death) is above the state average but that number is looking better for the county as the number of premature deaths decrease.
Quality of life for Hopkins residents is 99th out of the 240 counties in the comparison. Poor or fair health is at 17% below the 19% state average. Poor physical health days are at 3.6 which are on state average. Poor mental health days are also near state average. Both poor physical health days and poor mental health days for the state is slightly above the national average. Adult smoking, adult obesity, physical inactivity in the county is slightly above the state average. Yet access to exercise opportunities in the county are considered being well below state averages.
Health insurance is just above state average at 28% and that number is increasing. Uninsured adults in the county are at 33%. Uninsured children are at 18%. Health care costs average $11,375 which is slightly higher than the state average of $10,837.
There is one primary care physician for every 2,960 residents which is well above the 1 for 1680 state average. The number of dentists is well below state numbers. There is one dentist for 3,990 residents compared to one for 1,880 in the state average. Mental health provider numbers also fall short in the county. There is one mental health provider for every 1,710 residents compared to one for 990, which is the state average. Preventable hospital stays are above the state average but that number is decreasing, which is good. Diabetic monitoring is below the state average at 67% compared to 84% and that’s not good. The numbers have fallen in the last two years of the study. Mammography screening is also falling off in the past few years.
Excessive drinking and alcohol-impaired driving deaths are both below state averages with driving deaths well below at 19% compared to the state percentage of 32%.
Sexually transmitted diseases are on average with the state and, like the state and nation that number is increasing.
Teen births are on state average.
High school graduation is at 92% which is above the states 88% level. Yet, those with some college are below the states 59%. Hopkins has 49% in that category. Children living in poverty are above the state average but children in single-parent household’s number below the state’s average. Unemployment numbers are below state average.
Violent crimes are well below the states average but injury deaths are above.
These numbers and the placement of the 240 counties in Texas are based on the scoring values set by the Foundation. The study was a nationwide study conducted by the foundation.
Food Safety and Your Refrigerator
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]
by Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Consumer Sciences
Chill Out This Spring!
Do you have “mystery foods” hiding in the back of your refrigerator? Have you discovered something at the very back of the bottom shelf that you didn’t know you had? As the “home” for raw and cooked foods, the refrigerator is both a useful and vital appliance that must be kept clean to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, according to Rebecca Dittmar, Extension Food and Safety Specialist. With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to be thinking about cleaning the refrigerator and making it as safe as possible for food storage.
A National Sanitation Foundation study in which microbiologists measured levels of yeast, mold, staph and coliform bacteria — the family that includes salmonella and E coli – determined the kitchen was the “germiest” room in the house. It was also the room with the most coliform bacteria.
“Bacteria was found on multiple surfaces, including sponges, sinks, countertops and cutting boards,” Dittmar said. This really drives home the need to keep kitchen surfaces, including refrigerator surfaces, as free from bacteria as possible, but cleaning the fridge isn’t as simple as cleaning other areas of the kitchen.
First of all, harsh chemicals and disinfectants like bleach shouldn’t be used to clean surfaces where you will be putting food, Dittmar notes. Disinfectants that come into contact with food could make you sick due to the strong chemicals they contain. It’s best to use hot, soapy water to clean the refrigerator — or use specially formulated products or natural cleaners.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the two families of bacteria that can be found in refrigerators are pathogenic bacteria, which cause foodborne illness, and spoilage bacteria, which cause foods to deteriorate and develop unpleasant odors, tastes, and textures. This is a good time to use or throw away foods that are close to reaching their expiration date. Obviously, before cleaning the interior of the fridge you’ll want to remove all the food. An empty fridge makes cleaning easier and pretty much eliminates the possibility of contamination.
Take out all the removable parts, such as shelves and drawers and put these in the sink to soak with warm water and regular dishwashing soap before rinsing and drying. You may want to let any glass or ceramic pieces warm up a bit before putting them in hot water to avoid their cracking or breaking from ‘thermal shock.’
Dittmar suggests wiping the interior surface area with commercial wipes or dishwashing soap and warm water, working from top to bottom to avoid drips onto clean surfaces. Use a dishcloth or a paper towel when cleaning. To remove tough stains, mix some baking soda with water to make a paste and apply it to the stain and let it sit for a while before scrubbing and wiping it off. For thick or sticky spills, you may want to put a warm, wet cloth over the spill for a few minutes to soften them and make them easier to remove. If you used the dishcloth to wipe up raw meat or juices, wash it or replace it immediately with a clean one. While cleaning, pay particular attention to any corners, cracks and crevices where spills and small particles of food typically collect, and remember to wipe down interior doors.
Once the interior is clean, it’s time to put the food back into the refrigerator. Make sure the interior temperature is set to keep foods below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the fridge is clean, commit to take extra measures to keep it that way. Regularly look for hidden spills and wipe up any new spills immediately. Remove any foods that produce lingering odors, and to keep the fridge smelling fresh, put an open box of baking soda on one of the shelves.
This is a good time to start developing the habit of each week throwing out perishable foods that should no longer be eaten. A general rule of thumb for refrigerator storage for cooked leftovers is four days. If food is past its ‘use by’ date, it’s usually best to discard it. If you’re not sure or if the food looks questionable, the maxim ‘When in doubt, throw it out’ is a good way to go. Any food that looks or smells suspicious should be thrown out, and items such as ketchup and mayonnaise should be refrigerated after opening.
Raw meat, poultry and seafood should be kept in a sealed container or securely wrapped so their juices do not contaminate other foods. Large amounts of foods such as stews or soups should be divided into smaller portions and put in containers to cool quickly for refrigeration. The same applies for large portions of meat or poultry. When you’re returning foods to the fridge, this is also a good time to wipe any crust or sticky residue off jars or containers and dry them. Food in the refrigerator should be covered to retain moisture and prevent it from picking up odors from other foods.
For more specific guidelines for the length of time certain foods should be kept in a refrigerator, go to http://www.fsis.usda.gov/shared/PDF/Refrigeration_and_Food_Safety.pdf. With Easter quickly approaching, we want to keep our families healthy, instead of battling food borne illness!
Registration Reminders
Registration is currently being taken for three upcoming events: 1) Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes series; 2) “Cooking Through the Seasons” event; and 3) Twogether in Texas marriage education workshop. Contact our office at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Closing Thought
Sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand – Andy Rooney
Wildcats Baseball Lose District Opener; Host Mt Pleasant Friday
The Wildcats’ baseball team opened district play with a 3-0 loss at Texas High Tuesday night. The Tigers scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning off of Wildcats ace Tyler Follis. They put together a single, two doubles and two stolen bases along with a Wildcat error and two walks.
The Wildcats best scoring opportunity also occurred in the fifth inning. Heston Golightly doubled and moved to third on a ground ball but he was stranded at third.
The Wildcats are 0-1 in district play and 3-6-1 for the season. The Wildcats will try and bounce back Friday night at 7 p.m. at Eagle Stadium as they will play host to rival Mt. Pleasant.
Business History Month: Northeast Texas Farmers Cooperative
In 1939, Farmers Cooperative Gin Association of Sulphur Springs was founded by the State of Texas. This local agricultural cooperative was charged by its founding members/patrons to serve the predominant Cotton Industry of Hopkins County and Northeast Texas. With a governance structure of a 5-man board of directors and a 100% local ownership, the “Co-op”, as it became generically known, assisted in the evolution of production agriculture in Northeast Texas.
In the 1940’s, the agriculture industry in Northeast Texas began to grow and diversify. The dairy industry was an up and coming way of life. Animal agriculture would quickly outgrow row-crop agriculture, as the climate for growing good grasses became an advantage. The Co-op recognized these changes and assisted local producers by investing in a feed mill, supply store, and fertilizer blending plant. Serving rural and agriculture needs is indeed what a local agricultural co-op is all about, and these changes and investments helped the Co-op to grow in it’s ability to serve producers and the community, as well.
1970 saw the opening of the new, large Farm & Ranch Center and headquarters on Jackson Street. While Hopkins County had become a predominately dairy industry by this time, farming was still a way of life for several people in Northeast Texas. The Co-op recognized these needs of producers and purchased a grain elevator and farm supply store in Hunt County in 1972. This elevator, with a capacity of 1.3 million bushels of grain, provided a market for local farmers and a source for grain to be used in dairy feed manufacturing. Wheat was marketed for farmers for export, while corn, sorghum, and soybeans were purchased to supply dairies in a seven county area. The elevator allowed the Co-op to store grains for the local marketplace until it was needed.
As the decade of the 80’s rolled in, the members and board realized the geographical swath the Cooperative served and changed the name of the association to Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to reflect the geographical needs of agricultural and rural people. In the early 80’s, the dairies in this area had grown to exceed 300,000 cows. To keep up with our local agricultural needs, the Coop members built a new monolithic concrete feed mill at the Jackson St. location in 1982. State of the art computer controlled mixing and pelleting facilities enabled Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to serve approximately 50% of the local mixed feed market. In 1984, the Co-op added a feed mixing and pelleting plant to it’s Hunt County facility. This plant is still fully utilized to meet the bagged feed needs of members/patrons thru the Co-op’s 3 Farm and Ranch Centers and some 40 dealers throughout North and East Texas. Sabine Valley Feeds are the brand these feeds are marketed under.
The early 1990’s saw the Sulphur Springs feed mill expand with the construction of a Commodity Mixing Facility adjacent to the feed mill. This facility would allow the Co-op to mix grains, proteins, and roughage into a total ration for livestock.
This decade, the Co-op has seen a contraction, then a restart of expansion based entirely on the premise that the cooperative is here to serve member/patron needs. The construction of a mineral plant alongside the existing feed mill, the sale of the Hunt County elevator, a comprehensive renovation of the Sulphur Springs Bulk Feed Mill, and the addition of the Canton Farm & Ranch Center have solidified the Co-op’s footprint in so many rural, agricultural people’s daily lives.
Today, Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op proudly employs over 90 employees in their three locations. over 90,000 tons of feed is now produced annually to help generate over $41 million is sales through it’s two feed mills, three Farm & Ranch Centers, and 2 bulk fertilizer plants. Agricultural needs of people are actively served in 12 counties in East/Northeast Texas.
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op membership stands at over 6,000 agricultural members. Members must be classified as an agricultural producers per Chapter 52 of the Texas Agricultural Code. Of course, the Agricultural Cooperative form of business is open to all people, member or non-member, who may choose to do business with their Cooperative.
Members own $2,546,000 of preferred stock earned through doing business with their Co-op. Since, 2006 $724,277 from patronage dividends and stock retirement has been returned to member stockholders. 100% local ownership assures that the money helps the local economy. The governance structure centers on the membership. The members elect a 9-member board of directors who set policy and direction for the Co-op. Currently 4 of the 9 members of the board are Hopkins County producers. Hunt, Kaufman, Upshur, Camp, and Van Zandt Counties are also represented in the current board make-up. Harold Bryant, of the Gafford Chapel area in Hopkins County, serves as the President of the Board.
Wildcats Soccer Defeat Texas High; Face Final Game Showdown for Playoff Berth
The Wildcats’ soccer team took care of Texas High 2-0 Tuesday night at home on Senior Night setting up a big playoff determining match Friday night at Hallsville. The Wildcats got on the scoreboard once in each half.
In the first half, the Tigers knocked the ball into their own goal after Wildcat Branden Diosdado sent it toward the net. The Wildcats led 1-0 at the 13:54 mark of the first half.
In the second half, Tanner Ramirez stationed himself in front of the net on a throw in and put the ball into the net when it came to him.
The Wildcats honored five seniors on Senior Night. Each played extensive minutes and all played well. The five are keeper Dakota Scalcup, defender Tanner Ramirez, midfielder Ronald Arellano, forward Mark Maddox and forward Scott Galarza. All five left the game with less than 2 minutes left to play and the crowd roared. They continued to roar moments later when backup goalkeeper Rafael Lopez preserved the shutout with a good save.
The Wildcats improved their district record to 8-4-1 and the season record to 13-9-2. The Wildcats and Hallsville both jumped over Longview into a third place tie after play Tuesday night. The showdown at Hallsville is Friday night at 7 p.m.
Lady Cats Soccer Claw Way to Third Place in District with Tuesday Win
The Lady Cats’ soccer team may have punched their ticket to the playoffs with an impressive 2-1 win at Texas High Tuesday night. The game was scoreless at the half but the Lady Cats outscored the Lady Tigers 2-1 in the second half.
With one game to go, the Lady Cats jumped over the Lady Tigers into third place in the district standings. They will wrap up the district campaign with a home match against second place Hallsville Friday night at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium. It’s also Senior Night and the Lady Cats will honor three seniors: back up goalkeeper Jasmine Ramirez, defender Mary McMillan and forward Emily Moran.
The Lady Cats are now 7-4-2 in district play and 16-5-2 for the season.
Lady Cats Softball 3-0 in District Following Win Over Texas High
The Lady Cats’ softball team improved their district record to 3-0 with an 8-4 victory over Texas High at Lady Cat Park Tuesday night. The Lady Cats exploded for five runs in the first inning and then held on for the win.
Sarah Womack got the pitching win giving up four runs, some of them unearned. As part of the five run first inning, Lady Cat Sadie Stroud hit a two-run homer. Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo added that Hannah Crowson also had a good night hitting.
The Lady Cats may face their toughest test in district so far when they travel to Mt. Pleasant Friday night.
Farmers Co-op Sets Spring Expo for March 24
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op Spring Expo and members meeting will be an all-day event concluding with a hamburger supper Thursday night March 24 at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Other Expos and member meetings will be conducted as well in Greenville on March 21, Canton on March 22, and Clarksville on March 29.
During the day in Sulphur Springs, vendors will be present at the Co-op to speak with customers regarding various products available for the farm and ranch. KSST Radio will also be present doing live interviews with various vendors, Co-op personel and others.
At the evening meeting a number of prizes will be given away including a Vet Gun, valued at $226 and HLS 125lb fly buster tub valued at $83.50.
During Thursday night’s meeting, General Manager Brad Johns will speak along with Matt Stokes, Brad Fain, Steve Freeman, David Holt, and Donnie Peters. Stokes will address the myths of electric fencing. Fain will discuss with proper handling of vaccine schedules. Holt and Freeman will discuss bulk feed. Peters will talk about getting more out of your fertilizer. Special purchase prices will also be available on some products.
Wisconsin Students Spring Break Leads to Shadow Ranch
College students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in an organization called “Students Today, Leaders Forever”, have selected Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding School as a work project for one day on their work tour through Texas during Spring Break Week. Students will paint, mow, clean barns, and do some ground training and exercise of the therapy horses. Other cities on their tour include St Louis, Memphis, Hot Springs, Waco, and Austin.
Several local churches will assist the group of 40 arriving in Sulphur Springs Monday night, March 21. Dinner and lodging will be provided by Shannon Oaks, First Baptist, and Saint James. Lunch on the day of work will be provided by First United Methodist and Community Bible Fellowship.
Shadow Ranch, located on just off State Highway 11 East, Country Road 2321 in the Martin Springs, is a therapeutic riding school offering a special therapy for persons who are immobilized victims of injury or birth defects. Also victims of abuse and sexual assault are also served. Currently individuals from 5-years of age to 70 are participating in the therapy.
