Wildcat Season Ticket Renewal Begins Monday
Wildcat Football Season ticket renewal sales are set for Monday, August 10th and Tuesday August 10th. Purchased tickets may be exchanged for unpurchased/not renewed tickets Wednesday August 12th. All remaining season tickets will go on sale to the public Thursday, August 13 and Friday August 14. The ticket office in the High School Conference Center will be open 8:45 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. each day. The office will be closed from noon until 1 p.m. each day for lunch.
Ticket renewal purchases must be made Monday or Tuesday. Those who do not renew their tickets by Tuesday at 5 p.m. will lose their season ticket status and will have to wait until Thursday to pick out new seats if their chosen seats are taken on Wednesday. Ticket holders must have already renewed existing tickets to be eligible on Wednesday to purchase or exchange for any season tickets that were not renewed.
The season ticket is a packet of 5 tickets, one for each home game, and is priced at $50. One must renew their tickets in person or sent their own personal check and a letter of authorization with the person designated to pick the ticket packet or packets for the one renewing. Checks are to be made payable to SSHS or SSISD.
Questions regarding season football tickets may be directed to Dwayne McMeans 903-885-2158, ext. 2205.
SSISD Announces Meet the Teacher, Schedule Pick Up For All Campuses
According to Rusty Harden, Director of Communications for the SSISD, Meet the Teacher activities are scheduled on each Sulphur Springs school district elementary through middle school campus either Tuesday, August 18th or Thursday, August 20th. High School schedules may be picked up Monday, August 24th.
Tuesday, August 18th at the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC), Head Start 3, Head Start 4 and Pre-K teachers will be available 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. From 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., Kindergarten (K) and Transitional First (T-1) parents may meet teachers.
Thursday, August 20th, first and second grade teachers at Bowie, Lamar, and Travis will be available from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Students in grades 1 or 2, who are new to the district, must preregister with the Elementary Education Office at 631 Connally Street to determine campus assignment.
Fifth grade teachers will be at Douglas Intermediate School from 4 until 6 p.m. Thursday, August 20th.
Also on Thursday, teachers will be at Sulphur Springs Elementary School, grades 3 and 4, from 4 p.m. and 7 pm.
At the Middle School, students and parents may come anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday August 20th to pick up schedules, drop off school supplies and meet the teachers. Parents of returning students are asked to be sure to complete all enrollment documents on line before the day. Schedules may not be ready for students who have not enrolled on-line prior to Thursday the 20th. Parents of new students may come in before the 20th to complete all enrollment documents so that a schedule will be ready for their student at meet the teacher.
All 7th grade students have an immunization requirement from the state of Texas that must be verified by the school nurse before the student will receive his/her schedule. The district urges parents to take care of this requirement by faxing updated immunization records to Vickie Vaughan at 903-439-6126 (SSMS fax #) as soon as possible.
Freshmen at Sulphur Springs High School are invited to the SSHS Student Council’s annual Freshman Fish Camp. Fish Camp provides useful information that will make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth as possible. Harden calls it a fun way for students to get connected. Fish Camp is Monday, August 24th from 9 a.m. until noon. During this time students will have the opportunity to learn about various organizations, enjoy a fashion show emphasizing dress code, meet administrators, pick up schedules, go on a walking tour, and participate in a mock class day. Attendance at Fish Camp is not required but is encouraged.
All SSHS students 10th– 12th grades are invited to pick up their schedules on Monday, August 24th from 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. Freshmen who do not attend Fish Camp may pick up their schedule during these hours.
Hannah Kirby’s Saturday Mini-Concert Benefits MADD
Local singer and songwriter Hannah Kirby will be doing a mini-concert Saturday from 1 p.m. Until 3 p.m. At Sulphur Springs Dodge. The event is a kick off for a walk coming up in late September for MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Hannah was Enola Gay’s guest on KSST’s Good Morning Show Thursday morning and she talked about the mini-concert and more.
Sno-cones, a bounce house, and 30 minutes of Hannah Kirby in concert will highlight the time. Hannah has a single that will be released very soon on iTunes and shortly after on other web based venues. She will also have a CD coming out. The single, written by Hannah, was written two years ago. She credits her mom’s help in writing many of her songs.
Dike Volunteer Fire Department Responds Quickly to Grass Fire!
Dike Volunteer Fire Department responded to put out a potentially large grass fire. Once again, area volunteers put down their work and rushed to fight a fire. This fire call was to a hay field north of Dike, TX. Speculation at the scene indicated the fire was started by a tractor mower. Units from Hopkins County Fire Department and Brinker Volunteer Fire Departments also responded.
The fire was put out quickly and no one was injured and there was no equipment loss.
Local fire departments report regularly this time of year to put out dangerous fires. Our current weather is very conducive to fires.
Always avoid discarding cigarettes and other objects that lead to fires. Dry grass, wind, and hot weather can be a dangerous combination.
The best way to get rid of a grass fire is not letting one start. Don’t burn trash, leaves, or brush without the right supervision. Leaving the sight of a burn for even a few minutes can start a major fire quickly especially when the wind is blowing. When using grills make sure trees, leaves, and your home is at least 15 feet away. Avoid parking cars or other machinery on dry grass. You car’s exhaust can reach 1,000 degrees F and it only takes 500 degrees F to ignite dry grass. Always keep watch of all equipment when in use to avoid fires from starting.
Story and Photos by Molly Clegg, HS Intern
Rough Road for Rural Hospitals in Texas and the Nation
As part of a national trend, many Texas rural hospitals continue to struggle, which is the result of cuts in Medicare and Medicaid payments over the past four years. Those cuts are resulting in an annual loss of revenue totaling almost $100 million for Texas 171 rural hospitals. Due to decreased revenues, a number of rural hospitals remain in financial distress and more could be on the brink of closing.
Thirteen Texas rural hospitals have closed since January 2013 and that many or more could close this year if full payment is not restored, according to David Pearson, CEO of Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (also known as TORCH). Nationwide 56 rural hospitals have closed over a similar period of time and another 283 are considered at risk at this time.
Pearson said the need varies from community to community. Some good news is that Texas rural hospitals will see slight relief as the Texas Legislature restores on September 1, 2015, many of the past Medicaid cuts. Pearson points out that restoring those payments will only reduce the total cuts by one third and that this partial state-level relief may be coming too late for some facilities. “Congress has yet to step up and address many of the damaging Medicare cuts made to hospitals,” stated Pearson.
Urban hospitals may have other avenues to recover from cuts, but rural hospitals do not. Don McBeath, Director of Government Relations for TORCH, says rural hospitals have the great deficit because they often treat a higher percentage of Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Rural hospitals have always struggled due to different operating dynamics such as caring for a higher percentage of poor and elderly, operating with a near negative financial margin due to lower patient volumes, dramatic swings in patient numbers from day to day, medical staff recruitment challenges that drive up payroll costs, and a general lack of economics of scale that can be derived through high-volume purchasing.
In a small town, the local hospitals are critical to their local economy. If hospital employees are forced to relocate following a closure then that leads to a reduction of dollars flowing into the local economy.
Closures also lead to tragedies according to TORCH. An 18 month old infant died choking on a grape when the family rushed the child to Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center Texas and found it closed. The child died before reaching the nearest hospital past Center. Pearson says his organization is working with member hospitals to help them find ways to survive but he “hopes the restoration of state Medicaid dollars and a quick response from Congress will end the crisis; but probably not before more rural hospitals close their doors in Texas.”
Chamber Connection – August 6, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Chamber Connection – August 6, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Hopkins Place will be honoring their Heroes with a First Responders Lunch, Friday, August 14th
The staff and residents at Hopkins Place would like to honor their heroes & first responders with a complimentary lunch, Friday, August 14th from 12-1. They are located at 890 Camp Street. Please RSVP to Sherrie at 903-658-9278 by August 12th.
Hot August Night, Saturday, August 15th-Civic Center Grounds…Featuring the After & Hawk Nelson
The Way Radio Group and Sulphur Springs Dodge present Hot August Night, Saturday, August 15th at the Civic Center Grounds. The Hopkins County Volunteer Fire Departments, 9th Annual BBQ Cook-Off begins at 1pm. Food Service Begins at 5pm and the Concert featuring The Afters & Hawk Nelson begins at 7pm. You may get your tickets at itickets.com.
Don’t miss Elizabeth Ellis, Saturday August 15th at the Sulphur Springs Library!
If you remember going to the library when you were a child to listen to stories, pass those memories to a new generation… bring a kid to the library! ELIZABETH ELLIS will be here Saturday morning August 15 at 10am! Elizabeth Ellis doesn’t mince words. Filled with hilarious and poignant honesty, her personal stories deliver down-home wisdom, southern style. It is a voice which finds the heart and the funny bone, riveting audiences wherever she goes. Elizabeth Ellis grew up in the Appalachian Mountains hearing stories from her Grandfather, a mountain minister. The “Divine Miss E” is a versatile, riveting teller of Appalachian and Texas tales and stories of heroic American women, though her personal stories are arguably her best. Invariably hilarious and poignant, she is a repeated favorite at the National Storytelling Festival. The award winning storyteller has mesmerized nearly a million children in her thirty-six year career.
4th Annual Dog Show, Thursday, August 20th @ 6:00pm at Hopkins Place
Come visit the remarkable, pet-friendly community at Hopkins Place, for the 4th Annual Dog Show! Dogs will be judged in several categories…Best Hair, Best Behavior, Most Friendly and Best Bark! The Entry Fee is a 10lb bag of dog food to be donated to the Hopkins Coutny Animal Shelter. This event is sponsored by Bethany Home Health. To register your dog, please call Sherrie at 903-439-1202
4th Annual Jace Jog, Saturday, August 29th, 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run, Coleman Park
5K Run Walk begins at 8:00 a.m.; $25.00 Entry Fee. Kids Fun Run at 7:30 a.m.; $5.00 Entry Fee (10 years and under will be held at Coleman Park (Soccer Field Side). Register at Anytime Fitness and online: rctregister.com. Early registration – July 15- August 14. T-shirts guaranteed for 5K early registration.
Adult Leadership Class Project…Beautiful Picnic Tables in the new pavilion!
The Leadership class of 2014-15 has the opportunity to assist in enhancing this area using a location that has been unused for years. The City of Sulphur Springs and the Adult Leadership Class of 2014-15 has partnered in the demolition of the old city pool and begun the construction of a large pavilion, available for public use, complete with brick fireplace/smoker and 24 picnic tables. We anticipate a great place for family reunions, class reunions, birthday parties or general meeting space!
The tables are a $1,000 donation for each picnic table personalized with your business, family name or loved one’s name with a maximum of 30 letters. Donations can be paid to the order of Sulphur Springs Leadership Class 2014-15 or Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. They will limit to the first 24 paid donations.
We would like to welcome the following members to the Chamber of Commerce:
Managed Solutions Group
1203 Jackson St. North
Sulphur Springs, Tx 75482
888-354-6208
Kasey Tomasek
Computer Technology Services
Red River Credit Union
1335 S. Broadway, Ste. 20
Sulphur Springs, Tx 75482
903-735-3164
Ryan Brook
Banks & Mortgage Companies
Meredith Caddell
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
Where is the Enola Gay today?
August 6, 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan in the final stages of WW II. It’s historic because it was the first time an atomic weapon was used in combat. The plane which carried the bomb was Boeing B-29 ‘Enola Gay’. The pilot was Paul Tibbetts and co-pilot was Robert Lewis. Two other B-29’s also went on the mission to photograph the dropping of the bomb. No one knew exactly what to expect. The pair in the cockpit forgot to put on their sunshades and thus experienced the brilliant flash. The crew did not know what the impact would feel like either, exactly. The co-pilot’s notes to the log reveal there were a couple of “slaps” to the plane in the aftermath of the explosion, and as they banked away, they looked back and could see only smoke and the rising mushroom cloud. Lewis noted, “My God, what have we done?” Three days later, a second bomber carried our message to Japan at Nagasaki aboard the plane “Bock’s Car”, with Enola Gay sharing the mission as advance weather reconnaissance. After this second blow, Japan surrendered and subsequently, the war came to an end.
Enola Gay
Enola Gay
Smithsonian Photo – Dane A. Penland Enola Gay
Enola Gay
Many people already know that the famous plane was named for the pilot’s mother, Enola Gay Tibbetts. A generation earlier, a novel was written by Mary Young Ridenbaugh and published in 1886 as “Enola: or Her Fatal Mistake”. Mrs. Tibbetts was named for the central character. Curiously, the opening poem and other passages from the book refer to horrors coming from above and destruction from the skies. Some 59 years before the first atomic attack, was this writing cryptic of the future world?
City Council Requests Study For Signal Light at State Hwy 19 and FM 2285
During the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night, the council voted to request that TXDOT conduct a study for a signal light at Highway 19 and FM 2285. Wednesday morning, KSST News spoke with City Manager Marc Maxwell regarding the study.
A fatality accident (see story here) prompted the city council to seek a study that would lead to a signal light where flashing lights are currently. The amount of traffic, five lanes of traffic, and other adversarial issues create an environment for accidents to occur. Maxwell stated when he went through the intersection recently, he looked three or four times to be sure he could cross.
City Manager’s Report To August City Council Meeting
STREETS, WATER AND SEWER – The FM 2285 waterline replacement project is complete. This project replaced 2.5 miles of undersized and dilapidated water main. The project was budgeted at $862,800. The project will come in well under budget. The old water main generated more repairs that any other water main in the City. Ironically, just as the Capital Construction Division was about to place the new line into service, the old line ruptured one more time for good measure.
The Davis Street waterline replacement project is up next. This project will replace 1,500 feet of water main on North Davis from Park to Glover. This will clear the way for this street segment to be paved along with the other streets in the summer paving program.
The annual summer paving program is about to kick off. Texana Land and Asphalt will pave the following streets in the next month or two:
Live Oak Helm to Dead-end $91,779
Waco Industrial to Lee 24,600
Vonda Mockingbird to Wright 35,042
League Main to Bellview 78,272
Carter College to Fuller 17,057
Davis/Kyle to Lee 82,529
Woodlawn Locust to 57,601
West/Joyce Shannon to McCann 41,435
Jill College to dead-end 52,721
S. Moore Tate to Barbara 54,909
Finney League to Sunset 25,325
TOTAL $561,270
The Rockdale Road reconstruction project is on deck. You might recall that in the past five years we have replaced two out of four segments of Rockdale Road (on the north side of the interstate). This project will reconstruct the remainder of Rockdale Road.
CLAIMS – We did not have any worker’s compensation claims in July.
We had one liability claim in July for a minor accident.
CITY BUSINESS OFFICE – We’re almost done. Move-in day is set for……any day now.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 1.64 mg/L, well within the limit of 12 mg/L.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens, will not present the year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures since he has covered the same information in the budget presentation.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Hosted a Dixie Boys Baseball tournament (14) teams.
- Replaced all light bulbs in the Coleman Park athletic complex.
- Shredded around Coleman Lake.
- Fertilized athletic fields.
- Initiated 15 code enforcement investigations.
- Conducted 21 building inspections, 8 electrical inspections, 18 plumbing inspections, 1 mechanical inspection and issued 27 building permits.
- Responded to 132 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 86 fire hydrants.
- Sent 79 code compliance notices (weeds) and issued 26 citations.
- Checked out 3,946 library materials and concluded the summer reading program with 1,089 in attendance.
- Rebuilt the control vault for the Celebration Fountain.
- Worked on electrical systems at old city hall.
- Retained geotechnical contractor in preparation for redesign of the wastewater treatment plant.
- Performed multiple repairs and preventative maintenance actions at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Inspected several restaurant grease traps.
- Repaired 5 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 17 water meters.
- Unstopped 14 sewer mains.
- Repaired 2 sewer mains.
- Washed 85,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Performed preventative maintenance on Gena Creek sewer outfall line.
- Treated 165 million gallons of Cooper Lake water.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Repaired mixer in Carter Street water tower.
- Sold 2,221 gallons of AvGas and 6,886 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Made 91 arrests, recorded 103 offences, responded to 35 accidents and wrote 678 traffic citations.
- Responded to 252 animal control calls and achieved an adoption rate of 34%.
- Made 4 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
- Patched 681 potholes.
- Made 9 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Began new construction of sidewalks, curbs and landscaping at the water office (old city hall).
- Boom shredded several streets around town.
