National Healthcare Month: EMS
This is a special week for Emergency Medical Service or EMS. Two local veterans of EMS Danny Wilburn a paramedic and shift captain and Jim Sanderson a paramedic and shift captain discussed EMS on KSST’s Good Morning Show with Enola Gay Thursday morning. Sanderson has been with EMS for 16 years. Wilburn has been with EMS since 1993.
Danny Wilburn said EMS doesn’t do many outside events during National Healthcare Month due to specific responsibilities. He called the bicycle rodeos at various schools in May is one of their annual major events. He pointed out that EMS has expanded services since the hospital took over emergency medical services from the city of Sulphur Springs in 1982.
Wilburn pointed out that medical care can begin with the 9-1-1 call. Sanderson called that medical care a “crash course in first-aid.”
Rain, Rain, and More Rain Probable Thanks to El Nino
At least one National Weather Service forecast says there’s a good chance our rainy weather may last for a while. Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell keeps us with those forecasts.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued as statement Monday May 18, that there is an 80% probability that we will remain in El Nino until the end of the year and a 90% chance that we will remain in it until the end of summer, according to Maxwell. Maxwell said that means “a lot more rain.”
El Nino brings moisture to the Plains area and creates drought for the West Coast.
Parents Charged with Child Endangerment
The parents of an 8-month old child are in Hopkins County Jail charged with child endangerment with eminent bodily injury. The man and woman from Sulphur Springs were arrested Wednesday for endangering their child. The female child had tested positive for methamphetamine. The parents also tested positive. Twenty eight (28) year old Jeremy Don Campbell and 27-year old Crystal Leeann Allen Campbell were charged with endangering a child with eminent bodily injury before Justice of the Peace B.J. Teer, who set bond on each at $75,000.
Special Crimes Unit Lt. Harold McClure told KSST News that on Tuesday Child Protective Services brought an investigation they were conducting to the Sulphur Springs Special Crimes Unit. Based on review of the CPS and the Crimes Unit investigation, the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s office sought and obtained an arrest warrant. McClure said the child had been subjected to second hand smoke as the parents smoke the meth. He added that the handling of the methamphetamine and then handling the child in everyday parental care, such as changing a diaper or holding the child, would subject the child to the substance.
McClure added Child Protective Services had taken custody of the child and placed her in foster care.
EMS Week at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital
Danny Wilburn and Jeff Sanderson
May 18-24 is EMS Week at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. Our hospital employs 23 full-time paramedics and four EMS dispatchers, plus part-time and specialized workers. Director of Communications and Security Brent Smith is EMS Chief. Paramedics Danny Wilburn and Jeff Sanderson (pictured) are two of three “Shift Captains” along with April McGuffy. At Memorial Hospital, there were 6600 calls for EMS during 2014.
Summer Sports Camps Offered at PJC
Paris Junior College’s Dragons sports programs will hold camps this summer for youth interested in men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. “We know parents are looking for activities for their children over the summer, and this allows young people to take advantage of our college’s coaching expertise and interact with our athletes,” said PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. “They will have a great time while staying busy learning and developing athletic fundamentals.”
Dragon All-American Basketball Camp, June 15-19
The Dragon All-American Basketball Camp is for boys who were in first through ninth grade this past year. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday and campers are provided lunch. Each camper needs to dress in athletic shoes, socks, shorts and t-shirt.
Camp fee is $120. A $50 deposit must accompany each registration form with balance due during check-in. Campers registering prior to opening day will receive a camp t-shirt and regulation basketball.
Head Coach Chuck Taylor, Assistant Coach Robert Ford and members of the Dragons basketball team will offer instruction in stretching and agility; station drills, daily contests, team games, and league games with daily contests and daily awards and viewing of film with lecture for honing playing skills.
Call 903-782-0218 or email [email protected] for more information on the basketball camp.
Lady Dragons Basketball Camp June 22-25
The Lady Dragons Basketball Camp will be held June 22-25 for girls entering ninth through twelfth grades this year. The post players’ session will be 9 a.m. to noon and the session for guards will be 1-4 p.m. Both groups will meet together from 9 a.m. to noon on June 25.
This camp is specifically designed for varsity level players and will focus on developing higher-level skills. Structured similarly to PJC basketball team workouts, there will be one-on-one, two-on-two, and three-on-three skills development.
The fee for a morning or afternoon session is $75. To attend both varsity position camps the fee is $100. A $20 deposit must accompany each registration form with the balance due at check-in. Each camper will receive a free T-shirt. Campers should wear basketball shoes, socks, shorts and T-shirt.
Camp sessions include stretching and footwork; station drills; daily contests and team games. Lady Dragons will be on hand to teach the fundamentals including footwork, dribbling, shooting and player positions.
PJC Women’s Basketball Coach Michael Madrid and Assistant Coach Shakira Nettles will conduct the camp. For more information, call 903-782-0218 or e-mail [email protected].
Volleyball Camps, July 6-9
The Dragons Volleyball Camp for girls fourth through eighth grade will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, July 6-9. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. on July 6. The camp for ninth through twelfth grade girls is also July 6-9. This camp will meet from 1-5 p.m. with check-in starting at noon on July 6.
Head Coach Justin Maness and Assistant Coach Amber Jay will lead the camps. Campers should dress in athletic shoes, socks, shorts and t-shirt. Campers who register before the first day of camp will receive a camp t-shirt.
The fourth through eighth grade camp fee is $70. Skills stressed in this camp will include court communication; passing basics, setting basics, serving, attacking footwork and arm swing; blocking, understanding match rotation and match play.
The ninth through twelfth grade camp fee is $100. Game skills covered include volleyball communication; passing fundamentals; setting fundamentals; attacking footwork; attacking (standard and quick); blocking (communication, single, double); serving (spots and different types of serves); defense (rotational and perimeter); offense (quick, combos, tandems); volleyball conditioning exercises; and match play.
For information on the volleyball camps call 903-782-0218 or email [email protected].
Reds Whites and BREWS!
At least a dozen Texas wineries will be a part of the first ever Reds, Whites and Brews Festival coming to Celebration Plaza Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. The wineries reds and whites will be judged by sommeliers or wine professionals. Craft beers will be featured at Bayou Jacks, Lou Vineys, Burger Grind and Muddy Jakes. The Jazz Melodies band will play during the festival.
Top Students and Graduation Dates for Area High Schools
North Hopkins High School has 15 seniors who will graduate on Saturday Jun 6. Commencement will be conducted at 3 p.m. in Panther Gym. Valedictorian is Maruricio Gamez and Salutatorian is Denice Franco.
Sulphur Bluff High School will graduate 13 seniors Saturday June 6th at 5 p.m. in the new high school gym. Their top two graduates will be announced May 29th during awards day ceremonies.
Yantis ISD will graduate 16 in commencement Saturday May30, at 6 p.m. at Lake Fork Baptist Church. Top students are Kaitlyn Davis and Kayla Campbell.
Thirty-three Cumby seniors will graduate in commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29, in the Texas A & M University-Commerce Ferguson Sciences Building.
Miller Grove plans commencement exercises for Friday June 5, 7 p.m. in Hornet Gym. Thirteen seniors will graduate. William Clinton is valedictorian and Logan Miller, salutatorian. The public is invited to the Miller Grove end-of-school annual stew Friday May 29.
Saltillo graduates 23 seniors Friday, May 29 in Lions Gym at 7 p.m. Monica Wartenbee is valedictorian and Moresa Shelby is salutatorian.
At Como-Pickton 44 graduate Friday June 5 at 8 p.m. at Ron Heflin Field. Senior Night is Tuesday May 26 at 6 p.m. and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be named Wednesday May 27th during their Awards Assembly.
In Mt Vernon, 106 will graduate on Don Meredith Field Friday May 29th at 8 p.m. Zachary Auringer is Valedictorian and Madeline Cox is Salutatorian.
Winnsboro High school will graduate 80 Friday May 29th at 8 p.m. i Red Raider Stadium. Valedictorian is Danielle Yarbrough and Tyson Gerner is Salutatorian.
Sixty-three Pinned in PJC Ceremonies
Paris Junior College’s Heath Occupations Department held award and pinning ceremonies and handed out certificates to sixty-three students in vocational nursing May 14 in the Hunt Center.
The Hopkins-Nicholas Award for outstanding performance in both classroom and clinical training went to Christin Walsh of Greenville. The award for highest grade point average was shared by Jacqueline Davis of Paris and Nizzia Tubb of Sulphur Springs. Alma Morris of Sulphur Springs received the Metamorphosis Award for exhibiting the most growth through the entire vocational program.
Perfect attendance awards went to Tate Anderson, Takeva Dean, Kaity Edwards, Addie Elliott, Billie George, Colleen Halcomb, Darla Kelly, Jamie Leavens, Mona Lisa LaMoure, Jennifer Menge, Daley Phifer, Nizia Tubb, and Jaycee Wilkerson.
Graduate vocational nurses and their hometowns are:
Como: Laree Anglin
Cooper: Tate Anderson and Daylee Phifer
Dike: Jamie Leavens
Point: Ana Camacho
Sulphur Bluff: Jamie Goldsmith
Sulphur Springs: Ashten Boatman, Karri Butts, Liz McFarland, Jennifer Menge, Alma Morris, Karen Normandeau, Lauren Owsley, Colby Parker, Madison Penny, Renee Semler, and Nizia Tubb
Red, White, and Brews Saturday
Twelve Texas wineries and several Texas breweries will be represented at the first-ever Red, White and Brews Fest on Celebration Plaza Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. Several events will be featured including a one hour seminar and music. The music during the event will feature jazz. During the evening market that follows Red, White, and Brews, a marimba band will perform.
Sulphur Springs Director of Community Development Shane Shepard said the breweries will be stationed at the restaurants downtown including Louviney Cellars and Bistro, The Grind House, Muddy Jake’s Sports Bar and Pub, and Bayou Jack’s. For both the wines and the brews, there will be a contest. The wines will be judged by Sommeliers, California based judges.
From noon until one, a wine tasting seminar will be conducted near the downtown stage area.
Family Displaced by Apartment Fire in Como
A family was displaced as a result of a smoky fire in a unit of an apartment complex located in the 300 block of First Street in Como at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. A pet cat died in the fire but there were no other injuries. The one unit had very heavy smoke damage to contents. Adjacent units received some smoke damage.
Como Fire Chief Roy Darby was the first one on the scene and said the volunteers encountered a great deal of smoke coming from the apartment unit. He was soon joined by firefighting units from Hopkins County Central, Pickton-Pine Forest, Brinker and Saltillo.
The Red Cross was helping to relocate the family.
County Fire Marshal Mike Mathews is investigating the cause of the fire.
