Wildcats’ Baseball Season Ended Friday
The Wildcats’ baseball season ended Friday night at McKinney Boyd as Prosper defeated the
Wildcats, 62 to sweep the Regional Semifinal series two games to zero. After the Wildcats fell
behind, 30, they battled back scoring two runs in the fifth inning. Kade Hudgins double was the
inning’s big hit. A Prosper three run homer in the sixth pushed the lead back out to four runs. The
Wildcats season ends with a 19-12 record.
Texas State Champion Homemade Ice Cream Freeze Off Coming in June
The annual Texas State Champion Homemade Ice Cream Freeze Off, hosted by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, is coming up soon as a part of Dairy Festival. The competition is free to enter, and anyone who registers before June 8 can qualify for prizes. The groups which can receive cash prizes include Big Dip for people 13 and older, as well as Super Scoop for past winners of the Freeze Off.
“We do first, second, and third place for Big Dip, who get $75, $50, or $25 if they win,” Chamber President Meredith Caddell said. “And if they’ve won before, those in the Super Scoop category, then they get $100 for first, and $50 for second. You don’t have to pay anything to enter, and you can win money which is even better.”
The Freeze Off has always has a consistent pattern of entries throughout the years. However, each year has always had its wild cards that stand out among the rest.
“Strawberry always seems to be in the top one, two, or three,” Chamber President Caddell said. “We always have a lot of people that ask for peach, which there’s usually only one peach entry. There are always such good ones. Last year Carly Pinson made Fire & Ice that was just delicious. I also remember a key-lime pie, and then Mariella Hoybook and her sister used to come up with unique ice cream all the time. It’s always fun to see what flavors come in”
May 29 Declared Hopkins County Memorial Day
There was a Memorial Day program on Celebration Plaza Friday morning. Art Romanat, a retired Air Force Lt. Col was emcee. During the program, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom delivered a proclamation reading which declared Friday, May 29, as Hopkins County Memorial Day.
“I want to welcome you to your town square where we are going to pay tribute to all our comrades in uniform from all the armed conflicts in our nation’s gallant history who have gone to their eternal rest,” Romanant said. “Today we honor their memory, the deeds and fruits of these fighting men, who purchased the very freedom for the generations of Americans that followed them.”
Before reading the proclamation, Judge Newsom briefly commented on the struggles on America before offering his thanks to those who have served.
“I am looking to the west as I speak this morning and I see that there is a storm coming,” Newsom said. “As to our nation, I realize that there has almost always been a storm coming. I recognize that those who went before us have gone through much more measures in loving this country than I have. I want to thank you for your service to our country, to our community, to our city, to your families, and I just say thank you. I stand with Hopkins County in saying thanks for all you have done.”
The ceremony ended with a volley of three from seven riflemen with the Hopkins County Military Coalition, as well as the playing of Taps by the bugler with the local Marine Corps group.
Cleanup Begins at Buford Park
Three days after the major storm system that passed through Sulphur Springs on Monday May 25, Buford Park is undergoing cleanup and repairs from the damage caused by the storm. No major damage has been caused to the structure of Kid’s Kingdom. However, minor damage can be expected. Most of the uprooted trees and other major debris has been cleaned up. The city of Sulphur Springs will be replacing the trees that were uprooted during the storm. However, the replaced trees will be much smaller than the current trees, and it will take many years for the new trees to become established.
Wildcat Baseball Season Ends
The Wildcats’ baseball season ended Friday night at McKinney Boyd as Prosper defeated the Wildcats, 6-2 to sweep the Regional Semifinal series two games to zero. After the Wildcats fell behind, 3-0, they battled back scoring two runs in the fifth inning. Kade Hudgins double was the inning’s big hit. A Prosper three run homer in the sixth pushed the lead back out to four runs. The Wildcats season ends with a 19-12 record.
Community Education Classes Offered at PJC-Sulphur Springs
Several health care classes are available in June from the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center Continuing Education Department. Courses will meet at the center campus, located at 1202 West Houston. For registration or additional information, call 903-885-1232.
A Nurse Aide class will be offered from 5 to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, June 15-July 8. The clinical will meet from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 9-15. The class offers preparation for entry level nursing assistants.
Microsoft Excel Level 1: Essentials will be held 1 to 4:30 p.m., Fridays, June 5-12. Learn the basics of creating a worksheet; working with formulas and functions; formatting a worksheet; working with charts, and analyzing data using formulas.
The PJC-Sulphur Springs Center is also offering Conversational Spanish that will instruct students in selected vocabulary, pronunciations and basic structures used by those employed, with an emphasis on conversation. The class will meet via interactive television on Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 9-July 14, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The class is also available online beginning June 8; ask about this option when signing up.
The Initial Basic Life Support class on lifesaving skills for respiratory and cardiac emergencies will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 19. The American Heart Association certifies the class.
Medication Aide Update will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 26. The course fulfills Texas Department of Health specifications on annual renewal requirement. Med Aides should take this course one month before their certification card expires.
Public Library Announces Children’s Summer Reading Program
Hope Cain, librarian, announces the Summer Reading Program for the Sulphur Springs Public Library.
Every Monday in June and July is “It’s your Mission Monday”
- Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to check out a book from the library! Each child that checks out a book with his own card gets to choose a prize in our treasure chest!
Each Tuesday and Thursday offer Storytime!
- To better serve our community we are offering our weekly Storytimes twice each week. You can come on Tuesday morning at 10am OR Thursday evening at 6pm. Each week we will build another part of a superhero costume.
- June 9 and 11 introduce the superhero theme and choose our superpower, symbol and colors!
- June 16 and 18 we will make a mask to protect our superhero identity!
- June 23 and 25 we will make shoe wings for our feet to give us speed!
- July 7 and 9 we will make blaster cuffs for those cool superhero moves!
- July 14 and 16 we will finish the Storytimes off with the iconic superhero cape!
June 4 – 5-7pm The PETTING ZOO will kick off the Summer Reading Program! Thirty (30) animals, animal food for sale and photo opportunities everywhere! Be sure to get your child a wrist band and be in the drawings for prizes.
July 21 –- 2 shows –Brett Roberts Magic Show – Heroes Around the World
- 2pm at City Hall – no limits – no sign ups
- 6pm LIMITED SEATING in the library- sign ups required
Heroes Around the World combines magic, and puppets. Not all heroes wear capes and costumes. Join Brett while he searches the world for heroes. There are different values that make a hero. Throughout history people have shown that they are worthy of the title “Hero”. This magic show will give examples of six of those values and will show how anyone can be a hero. This program combines fast paced magic, puppetry and storytelling. Children will be having so much fun they won’t realize they are learning. But, when they leave, they will have the skills they need to be heroes.
July 30 – 6-8pm HeroTown – this is our hero version of Community Read In. All of our local heroes will be here reading to the kids, showing what real heroes do everyday…CARE! Each child that turns in a reading log will get a prize and top reader prizes will be awarded
- Hot dogs generously donated by Grocery Supply,
- Drinks generously donated by Brookshire’s
Friday School Board Special Meeting Had Light Agenda
During a Friday special meeting of the Sulphur Springs ISD school board, Superintendent Michael Lamb presented a preliminary report on testing scores for the district. The board passed a resolution stating compliance with Senate Bill 149 and approved a bid to purchase a maintenance vehicle from Sulphur Springs Dodge. The resolution passed, Resolution 3-15, states the district’s compliance with Senate Bill 149, which went in effect immediately after being signed by Governor Greg Abbott. The bill allows seniors to graduate if they pass three of five end of course exams. High School Principal Josh Williams told KSST the new law would allow five more seniors to graduate this year.
Also during the meeting, Board President John Prickette presented Don Sapaugh a plaque in recognition of his service as board president during the 2014-2015 school year.
Personnel changes approved include:
Resignations
Tia McKee Kindergarten ECLC
Brooke Hicks Title I Aide SS Elementary
Monica Graves Grade 5 Douglas
Jerri Cole English High School
James Payne Science High School
Robert Scott Rozell Social Studies/Coach High School
New Personnel
Cydney Williams V.I. Teacher District-Wide
Nichole Cooks Resource Teacher Bowie/Douglas
Kassandra Smith Grade 2 Teacher Bowie
Kimberly Jones Title I Aide Travis
Casen Layne Ashmore Grade 5 Teacher Douglas
Amy Anderson ELAR 7th Grade Middle School
Susan Cook Math Middle School
Teresa Parks Special Ed Aide Middle School
Amanda Pennington Library Aide High School
Breanna Van Dyke English Teacher High School
Personnel Changes New position/campus Former position/campus
Marcie Stewart V.I. Aide/Dist-Wide SpEd Aide/SS Elementary
Toi Crook SpEd Self-Contained/ SpEd Teacher/Middle
SS Elementary
Tracy Flanery SpEd Self-Contained/ SpEd Teacher/Bowie
“Updated” Memorial Hospital Partners with CHRISTUS Health
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors has announced the selection of CHRISTUS Health as its proposed partner in the ongoing management and operation of the hospital. The organizations have signed a non-binding letter of intent, taking the first step toward finalizing their relationship.
When the deal is completed, CHRISTUS Health will acquire the majority share of and will manage the hospital, clinic, and related entities. The Hopkins County Health District will retain a minority ownership of the hospital.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with CHRISTUS Health,” said Michael McAndrew, CEO, Hopkins County Hospital District. “After a substantial process to find the right partner that shares our commitment to our patients and community, we are confident CHRISTUS Health will enable us to continue and improve upon this commitment and further enhance our mission. CHRISTUS Health has a strong foundation and shared values which will strengthen the delivery of care locally while providing an established system that will prepare Hopkins County Memorial Hospital for future health care delivery models.”
The next step is to complete the due diligence phase and finalize the partnership agreement, which is expected to happen in as little as 90 days. However, working through the partnership process may run longer due to a variety of related factors. CHRISTUS Health and the Hopkins County Hospital District will form a new corporation that will own and operate the hospital and clinic. It is anticipated that CHRISTUS Health will own at least a 51% share of this organization, and will manage Memorial Hospital and Clinic. The County hospital district will maintain around a 49% ownership of the hospital. In return for its ownership interest, CHRISTUS is making a major commitment to co-lead the future of Memorial Hospital and Clinic, which includes investments in the facilities, their services, and the communities they serve.
“This partnership not only brings together two health systems focused on serving their communities, but we believe that it will also ensure that Hopkins County Memorial Hospital District continues its mission of healing the people of Hopkins County,” said Ernie Sadau, CEO of CHRISTUS Health. “We are excited about welcoming the hospital and the community into the CHRISTUS family and expanding the reach of high quality, compassionate health care already provided here.”
Click for story: CEO Sadau introduced CHRISTUS to those present at the special Board Meeting Friday.
CHRISTUS is also looking for ways to strengthen its health care presence in East Texas. The system has facilities located in Texarkana, Houston, and Beaumont.
When a final agreement is reached, the partners will work together to continually identify new opportunities to serve, innovate and enhance the health care provided throughout the Hopkins county area.
CHRISTUS Health, an international Catholic, faith-based, not-for-profit health system sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston and San Antonio, is headquartered in Dallas and is comprised of almost 350 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities, 175 clinics and outpatient centers and dozens of other health ministries and ventures. CHRISTUS services can be found in 60 cities in six states in the U.S., seven states in Mexico, and one state in Chile. The system employs approximately 30,000 Associates and has over 9,500 physicians on facility medical staffs who provide care and support for patients.
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital, a 96 bed facility, has served the citizens of Hopkins County since 1949. Memorial Hospital is dedicated to providing medical care to the 30,000 residents who live within the 800 square miles of Hopkins County and neighboring counties. Our vision is to be the leader in Northeast Texas by offering high quality hospital physician services that meet the healthcare needs of our region and that our patients will recommend to others. Memorial Hospital and Clinic employ over 700 employees and has over 40 physicians providing care for our patients.
http://www.christushealth.org
Man’s Bond Set at $1.4-Million for Sexual Assault Charges
HUNTER JAMES DIXON
A 20-year old Sulphur Springs man was arrested Thursday morning at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department for sexual assault of two girls under the age of ten. Hunter James Dixon was charged with continuous sexual assault of a child and with aggravated sexual assault of a child before Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings who set bond for Dixon at a total of $1.4-million.
Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum said the sheriff’s office was made aware of the case on Tuesday after an outcry by a victim. He indicated the incidents had been occurring over several months beginning sometime last year.
