Lady Cats Soccer Opens District With Win
The Lady Cats Soccer Team opened district play with a solid 4-0 win over Marshall at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night. For the Lady Cats, it was their sixth straight shutout. They have also won eight matches in a row. The Lady Cats now now 1-0 in district play and 10-1 for the season.
Mileena Zarreta was selected as the Lady Cats Player of the Game.
Next the Lady Cats will play Mt. Pleasant Friday at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Lady Cats Stage Comeback to Win
The Lady Cats Basketball Team staged a furious comeback late in the game to defeat Texas High, 68-63 in Texarkana Tuesday night. The Lady Cats trailed by fourteen points at one point in the game and were behind by ten points with about five minutes left to play before they staged a big rally.
With the win, the Lady Cats improved their district record to 8-2. The Lady Cats are in second place. First place Hallsville, 9-1 in district, squeezed by Marshall on the road, 50-47 Tuesday night. The Lady Cats are now 21-6 for the season.
The Lady Cats will play Mt. Pleasant Friday at 7 p.m. in Wildcats Gym.
Wildcats’ Last Shots Refuse to Fall in Loss Tuesday
basketball
The Wildcats Basketball Team put a scare into Texas High in Wildcats Gym Tuesday night but still the Tigers managed to hang on and take a 53-51 decision. The Wildcats had a couple of looks at the basket at the end of the game but the shots refused to fall. At one point in the fourth quarter the Wildcats had a seven point lead but Texas High rallied to take the lead at the end.
The game’s top scorers were all Wildcats. Three players, Keaston Willis, Bryson Lynn and Derrick Weeks, scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are now 2-6 in district play and 9-15 for the season. The Wildcats will play at Mt. Pleasant Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Using the Kiosk to Pay Your City Water Bill
Need to pay your City of Sulphur Springs Water bill? You can do it the old fashioned way at the drop box or inside the building at 125 S. Davis Street. You can also use the kiosk. Lisa, with the City of Sulphur Springs, explains how to use the kiosk.
Wild Hogs: More Than Just a Not Welcomed Visitor-by Mario Villarino
During the last part of 2015 and early in January, I got involved in talks related to wild hogs. A recent facebook post showed a sounder (group of adult hogs) roaming during the day in Hopkins County. The rancher, recently moved from West Texas to Hopkins County was shocked after finding the hogs roaming his property. I talked to him about direct damage done by the wild hogs to his property but failed to mention the risk of disease transmission by the hogs. Wild hogs are more than unwanted visitors, they can also be a source and transmit diseases. According to Donald Davis (Texas A&M University) feral swine like all animals wild or domestic are susceptible to a wide range of infectious and parasitic diseases. Some of these diseases are specifically limited to pigs (Sus scrofa) and while some of the other diseases are shared with other species of wildlife and domestic livestock and a few diseases of feral swine are also shared with humans. Although not an indigenous wild species in North America, populations of feral swine (domesticated pigs that have returned to the wild state) are of sufficient number, ecological impact, and distribution to consider them wildlife in many areas, particularly in the Southeastern United States. Recent estimates of the number of feral swine in the United States vary from 1 to 3 million. The largest number of feral swine are believed to be in Texas, Florida, and California. Feral swine are commonly hated and loved by different segments of society in the same locations. As the numbers and geographic distribution of feral swine continues to increase, it is certain that the number of contacts between feral swine and domestic livestock will also increase as will the probability of human exposure to feral swine directly or indirectly. Not a great deal of information has been documented on the diseases of feral swine let alone any information of diseases spread from feral swine to livestock and humans. Brucellosis and pseudorabies are two diseases of feral swine that have been fairly well documented because of ongoing Federal Eradication Programs. Brucellosis is a bacterial infectious disease of animals and humans caused by members of the Genus Brucella. The effects of the disease in the primary host caused by the various species of Brucella is generally limited to abortions and reproductive organ infections. In other host species such as humans, the disease clinically may mimic severe flu and may vary to crippling arthritis or meningitis. There is no cure for brucellosis in animals and humans are treated with very high doses of antibiotics for extended periods to hopefully clear the infection. The wide geographic distribution of feral swine and the fact that they are known to be capable of transmission of brucellosis to humans and domestic livestock should be of some serious concern to governmental agencies responsible from the control and/or eradication of this disease. Pseudorabies is an infectious, often very acute viral disease of the central nervous systems of feral swine that also is found in domestic livestock, cats, and dogs. Pseudorabies is not a zoonotic disease so humans are not infected. Pseudorabies is also known as Aujesky’s disease, mad-itch, and pseudohydrophobia. The disease was first reported in naturally infected oxen, cats and dogs. Up to the early 1960’s in the United States, pseudorabies virus (PRV) was found in young domestic swine and caused limited amounts of mortality. After that date more virulent strains began to occur and losses among adult swine were observed. Now PRV commonly causes abortions and mortality in adult sows. The disease in swine may be spread by asymptomatic carriers, and in carnivores are readily infected by contact or ingestion of infected tissues or carcasses. The signs of pseudorabies vary widely from species to species, but anorexia, excessive salivation, spasms and convulsions are usually observed in all species. Mad itch is commonly seen in species other than swine, and pseudorabies is almost always fatal. Transmission of the PRV may occur through direct contact, aerosals, contaminated feed, water, ingestion of infected tissues, or contaminated footwear, clothing or trailers. Diagnosis is usually made on clinical signs and a variety of serological tests. Prevention and control programs for PRV in domestic swine vary from test, isolation, removal, and slaughter methods that may or may not be combined with a vaccination program to increase herd immunity and prevent the shedding of the PRV. The only method to control PRV in feral swine to date is population control. PRV virus has been isolated from feral swine in Texas and Florida, and serologic evidence of PRV has been demonstrated in other areas. The spread of PRV from feral swine to domestic cattle has been observed on multiple occasions in Florida and Texas. Contamination by feral swine of supplemental feed spread on the ground for cattle is suspected as the source of infection. This spread from feral swine to domestic swine and cattle is seen as a serious obstacle to the Federal Pseudorabies Eradication program. The exact infection rates of PRV in feral swine populations, the precise amount of transmission from feral swine to livestock, and the geographic distributions of PRV infected swine populations is not well known. Examples of other infectious diseases of swine that are now foreign to the United States but ones that could present a threat to the entire domestic swine industry if they should reach the continental United States are African swine fever, hog cholera, and foot and mouth disease. The last reintroduction of foot and mouth disease into the United States was in the 1920’s in California. That resulted in the eradication of over 22,000 black-tailed deer in the Stanislaus National Forest. With more than 115,000 head of cattle in Hopkins County, and the potential implications of feral hogs as diseases carriers to both human and animal diseases, controlling feral hogs becomes more important than just because the damage cause directly by them.
Coming up programs: Pesticide Private Applicator Licensing. February 17, 2016 8:00 to 12:00 $25.00 Lunch included. Register by calling 903-885-3443.
Programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, region, national origin age, disability or veteran status.
PJC Tuition and Fees Called a Bargain
Workers were busy putting the final touches on the new Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center campus building Friday. The signs were installed and faculty, staff and maintenance began moving from the old PJC-Sulphur Springs campus on Houston Street to the new location at 1137 East Loop 301 where spring semester classes will begin on Tuesday.
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents, at a regular January meeting, was told that PJC continues to be a bargain in tuition and fees.
“An annual review of statewide tuition, fees and taxes shows that PJC remains below average for in-district, out-of-district and out-of-state tuition and fees,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin.
“In-district is $65 per semester credit hour versus the statewide average of $82. The tax survey showed significant growth in tax rates statewide. We have the seventh smallest tax base in the state, but if you take out ‘maintenance districts’ we have the fourth smallest tax base. That is a very uncomfortable place to be when there are people at the state level looking at levels of local support in discussions of the future of the 50 community college districts.”
The Regents approved a call for elections in regent districts 1, 2, and 8 (an at-large position). The election will take place on Saturday, May 7.
In other business, the Regents:
- Received a financial report showing that the college’s expenditures are at 36 percent of budget and delinquent tax collections are up; the new delinquent tax attorney is working out well.
- Approved the Investment Policy CAK (Local) with no changes from last year. The policy meets all legal requirements of the State of Texas and has been reviewed by the Texas Association of School Boards attorney.
- Approved the list of Authorized Brokers/Dealers for Investments with no changes from last year. PJC is approved to invest funds with the organizations on the list.
- Selected regents Louise Taylor and Ginna Bowman to attend the Board of Trustees Institute in March, to be funded by the Greater Texas Foundation.
- Received a preliminary report showing that spring enrollment head count and contact hours were down, though dual credit enrollment is up. “Unemployment is low; when the economy is great, we’re down and when the economy is bad, we’re up,” said Dr. Anglin. She explained that an informal survey of other Texas community colleges showed that most are either down or flat in enrollment.
- Approved the sale of the old Federal Building and parking lot at 136 Grand Ave. in Paris to HWH Group for the minimum bid.
- Accepted employment of Upward Bound Student Advisor Tina Cook and Men’s Basketball Coach Bobby Taylor as well as the resignation of Men’s Basketball Coach Bilal Batley.
DOL Gives Memorial Clean Bill of Heath; Board Hears 4-Star Assessment from HCAHPS
A 4-Star rating for Hopkins County Memorial Hospital from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems was an encouragement to Chief Administrator Michael McAndrew and the hospital board Monday night, January 25, 2016, during their monthly board meeting. The HCAHPS survey contains 21 patient perspectives on care and patient rating items that encompass nine key topics: communication with doctors, communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge information, cleanliness of the hospital environment, quietness of the hospital environment, and transition of care. The survey also includes four screener questions and seven demographic items, which are used for adjusting the mix of patients across hospitals and for analytical purposes. McAndrew said that considering the recent encounter with CMS (see story here, here, here, and here), this comes as good news.
Other good news includes the visit by the Department of Labor. In December the Department of Labor notified HCMH that they would be visiting the campus following a complaint that had been filed with them. The result of the DOL investigation was a 100% clean bill of health for the hospital.
Also on the good news front, Tim Kelty, Board Chairman, told the board that he had spoken Monday with one of the attorney’s representing Memorial in formalizing the partnership with CHRISTUS. Kelty said the process is getting closer with a few key documents awaiting completion. Kelty told members the only thing that might delay a March closing is CHRISTUS interest in what they call the synergy between Memorial and Trinity-Mother Francis of Tyler. Recently Trinity-Mother Francis and CHRISTUS announced intent to merge. (See story here.)
The new Express Care is also a bright spot for the board. Business is increasing at the newly opened facility on South Broadway. The clinic has served daily highs of 21 patients, 19 on Monday, and a low of only 2 on their first Sunday open.
Robert Dyles, the new Technology Director at the hospital, has been credited with introducing new security measures to the hospital IT system. Recently the computer system at Titus Regional Hospital in Mt Pleasant was shut down for two to three days due to a security breach.
Dr. Robert Cooper, a third year resident, will add Memorial Hospital and Clinic to his May rotation. Cooper is completing his residence and will return in July to begin practice locally (see story here).
Necessary paperwork has been completed to add three nursing homes to the four nursing homes leased by Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. The seven homes are located in Tyler and Longview. HCMH will assist the homes in improving the quality of service while realizing a greater financial benefit from Medicare/Medicaid for the hospital, home, and patients. HCMH will introduce telemedicine to the homes allowing patients/residents to be seen by doctors without having to leave the nursing home facility unless necessary. HCMH is working on site with the homes owned by Stone Gate and Genesis corporations. A consultant is making rounds to all the homes to make sure the homes are performing appropriately.
The only downside to the Monday night meeting as a report of a low patient count which is normal for January. The low patient count results in a poor financial month for the hospital.
Best Intentions by Johanna Hicks
Best Intentions
In preparation for an upcoming conference, I was researching some websites, looking over Extension resources, and making note of items that could be included. I ran across an interesting article which is totally unrelated to the conference topic, but I really enjoyed reading it. Many of you will enjoy it, as well. The article reminded me of my good intentions to de-clutter my office closets where all my teaching aids, resource manuals, fabrics, sewing supplies, and other goodies are stored. I keep telling myself that I will eventually get around to doing it, but the opportune time has never come about. My promise to myself is that I will do it before Spring Break!
The author of the article is unknown, but makes some very good points, so I wanted to share “Stuff” with you:
“Every fall, I start stirring in my stuff. There is closet stuff, drawer stuff, attic stuff, and garage stuff. I separate the good stuff from the bad stuff, then I stuff the bad stuff anywhere the stuff is not too crowded until I decide if I need the bad stuff.”
“When the Lord calls me home, my children will want the good stuff, but the bad stuff, stuffed wherever there is room among the other stuff, will be stuffed in bags and taken to the dump where all the other people’s stuff has been taken.”
“Whenever we have company, they always bring bags and bags of stuff. I move my stuff, so they have room for their stuff.”
This fall, I had an extra closet built so I would have a place for all the stuff too good to throw away and too bad to keep with my good stuff. You may not have this problem, but I seem to spend a lot of time with stuff…food stuff, cleaning stuff, medicine stuff, clothes stuff, and outside stuff. Whatever would life be like if we didn’t have all this stuff?”
“There is all that stuff we use to make us smell better that we normally do. There is stuff to make our hair look good, stuff to make us look younger, stuff to make us look healthier, stuff to hold us in, and stuff to fill us out. There is stuff to read, stuff to play with, stuff to entertain us, and stuff to eat. We stuff ourselves with the food stuff.
“Our lives are filled with stuff…good stuff, bad stuff, little stuff, big stuff, useful stuff, junky stuff, and everyone’s stuff. Now, when we leave all our stuff and go to Heaven, whatever happens to our stuff won’t matter. We will still have the good stuff God has prepared for us in Heaven!”
Now, I’m sure I’m not the only one with clutter issues! However, it can become a problem when we can’t find things or when things aren’t where they are supposed to be. There are actually several clutter personalities. Can you relate to one of these?
1) Hoarder – This might come in handy someday.
2) Deferrer – I’ll think about that tomorrow.
3) Rebel – I don’t want to and you can’t make me!
4) Perfectionist – Next week, I’ll organize everything- perfectly!
5) Sentimentalist – Oh, that cute little thing!
You’ve probably heard the ways to handle clutter, but let me reiterate – throw it away, recycle it, donate it, sell it, or keep it. The techniques to handle the items are really quite simple. Use a laundry basket for items to keep and a bag or box for each of the other categories. It might help to set a time limit – use a timer. Decide quickly which pile an item goes in. Be realistic. Having a spouse, work associate, or buddy might help. Still can’t decide? Ask yourself these questions. How long since I used this? Does it work? Do I have more than one? If I keep this, what will I get rid of to make room for it? Can I locate the information
somewhere else if I need it?
To be organized, EVERY item must have a home – one logical place to look. ‘Corral’ similar items – gather related items together. Dispose of duplicate or unneeded items. Choose containers (or shelves) for each group. Choose a home for each container and store items close to where they are used. Store most frequently used items in the most convenient area and label containers for easy identification.
If you are still having trouble making progress, start small! Clean out your junk drawer or a closet. Is clutter really a problem, or do you just worry about it? In my office closets, I know where most of my stuff is when I need it, so it really isn’t a huge problem – I just worry about it. The same theory applies to my desk. As Albert Einstein said, “If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, of what then is an empty desk?” By the looks of my desk, my mind certainly is not empty! Thanks, Dr. Einstein!
Wish List
The 6th Annual “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” planning team will be conducting an activity during the camp this summer that requires empty baby food jars with lids. If you or someone you know has a baby and would be willing to donate the jars, we will gladly take them! Jars may be dropped off at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, in Sulphur Springs. We are usually here between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. If we happen to be out of the office for lunch or a program, you may leave them by the front door.
We still have some time, but I thought I would mention it now so you can be collecting the jars (preferably clean!) We’ll need about 45.
Closing Thought
“Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out” – Christian Larson
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]
SSHS NTHS Inducts New Members
The National Technical Honors Society Geral Kennedy Chapter inducted 36 new members Monday, January 25. The Welcome was performed by President Evan Ost. The Pledges to the Flag were performed by Senior Member Molly Johnston. The History of NTHS was performed by Senior Member Spencer Bramlett. The Purpose of NTHS was performed by Vice President Lexi Moore. The Candle Ceremony was done by Sarah Scott, Lilibeth Gallegos, Brooklyn Moon, Austin Reyes, and Evan Ost. Sponsor Debbie Stribling gave the Membership Criteria, and Director of College and Career Readiness Jenny Arledge gave the Member Recognition. Evan Ost ended the night with the NTHS Pledge. Refreshments for the event were provided by the SSHS Culinary Arts students.
Returning Members
Spencer Bramlett
Lilibeth Gallegos
Molly Johnston
Brooklyn Moon
Lexi Moore
Evan Ost
Austin Reyes
Sarah Scott
Inducted Members
Cain Cody
Sofia Guerrero
Zachary Haywood
Jessica Martinez
Morgan Mayers
Logan McGraw
Mary McMillan
Mackenzie Moore
Emily Moran
Diego Perea
Joshua Robertson
Reyna Torres
Hannah Van Vleet
Cindy Arellano
Sarah Berning
Emma Boyette
Summer Brooks
Mathew Calhoun
Hannah Crowson
Jaye Doughtie
De’Ontae Dunn
Mandy Eckhardt
Carson Folmar
Ashley Franklin
Destiny Godbolt
Zechariah Jarvis
Abbey Martin
Tori Mattison
Tori Moore
Ignacio Orozco
Rodolfo Perez
Easton Silman
Faith Singleton
Story Thompson
Malarie White
Anne-Marie Winborn
