Medina, Wright Appointed To HCHD Board of Directors
Foundation For New EMS Station/Hospital District Headquarters Building Poured Tuesday
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors officially appointed a CEO and appointed two new board members during a meeting Monday and announced filing will open soon for two seats up for election in 2022.
Appointments
The HCHD Board of Directors reportedly on Dec. 6, 2021, officially appointed Brent Smith as the top officer for the district. Smith was appointed by HCHD Board on Sept. 28, 2021, to serve as interim CEO while a search for a new financial executive continued.
Smith has served in a leadership capacity for the hospital district as director of EMS operations since July 2007. The HCHD board on Sept. 17, 2019, changed the district’s management structure, appointing Brent Smith as chief operating officer (COO) and director of EMS, and Ron Folwell as chief executive officer and chief financial officer.
Folwell was a public accountant for about 20 years and had served as CFO for several organizations for 20 years before being appointed hospital district administrator in October of 2016, when the hospital district entered into the joint venture with CHRISTUS Health. The hospital district board then established a new administrative operation after CHRISTUS assumed operational management of Hopkins County Memorial Hospital (now CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs).
Folwell this fall submitted his notice of retirement as CEO/CFO, which was officially accepted by HCHD Board at a special Sept. 14 hospital district meeting, hospital district representatives said Wednesday morning.
This fall, HCHD Board opened the position up for applications. On Monday, the board was reported to have officially appointed Smith as CEO.
HCHD also Monday night appointed Eimy Medina and Tammy Wright to fulfill two unexpired terms vacated by long time Directors Dr. William Dietze and Tim Kelty.
“The Hospital District is very excited to have these two wonderful additions to our Board of Directors,” Brent Smith stated. “They will bring a lot of value and knowledge to our Board.”
Medina brings experience working at a local financial institution to the board while Wright’s background is in human resources, both of which should prove beneficial to HCHD Board of Directors, Hospital District officials noted.
Medina and Wright were administered the oath of office Monday night and will serve until the conclusion of Dietze and Kelty’s terms on the board in 2023.
The board too approved for a notice to be posted at the appropriate time for filing for two seats up for election in May 20212 on the HCHD Board, those currently held by Kerry Law and Joe Bob Burgin, according to Smith.
Other Business
Smith said the board also approved a consent agenda during the special meeting called primarily for appointments.
The HCHD CEO reported the new EMS/HCHD headquarters facility is progressing well. All of the foundation for the building itself was poured Tuesday morning. They are awaiting approval of a permit from Texas Department of Transportation for use of Airport Road before the fire lane and parking concrete are poured. That is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the new building being constructed across Airport Road from the hospital, not far from the current EMS/HCHD headquarters on track to be completed by June 2022.
Lions Club Recognizes Parade Winners
Top Prize Donated To Blue Santa
In addition to providing a little extra holiday cheer each year, the Sulphur Springs Lions Club’s Lighted Christmas Parade also features a friendly competition among participants, with recognition doled out to the top three nonprofit and small business entries, and a trophy and cash prize going to the top rated large business entry in the parade. Entries were judged by a panel of judged from out-of-town, who notified the Lions Club of their choices for parade winners,
Sulphur Springs Lions Club recognized the 2021 parade winners during their lunch meeting Tuesday, when the cash prize was awarded. This year’s parade winners included:
Nonprofit Entry
- Trinity Harvest Church
- Sulphur Springs Elementary Student Council
- Como-Pickton Elementary Student Council
Small Business Entry
- Fix ‘n’ Feed
- Don Lalo
- Rustic O
Large Business
- Carriage House Manor
Sharla Tanton Campbell accepted the trophy and prize awarded by the Lions Club to Carriage House Manor for having the best large business parade entry. Then, she turned to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum and Chief Deputy Tanner Crump, who she’d asked to be on hand at Tuesday’s lunch meeting, and handed the prize money to the sheriff.
“It was a wonderful parade and I appreciate this, but in turn, Carriage House wants to donate it to Blue Santa. We are very appreciate of everything y’all are doing and it will mean a lot more to help the kids,” said Campbell, Carriage House administrator.
The law enforcement representatives said the funding is appreciated and will certainly help meet all of the needs this year to help the 255 financially disadvantaged Hopkins County families Blue Santa will be helping to provide Christmas gifts for their children, ages 0-14 this year.
Blue Santa also not only had an entry in the Lighted Christmas parade, but partnered with the Lions Club, encouraging anyone who felt generous to bring an unwrapped toy donation to the parade Friday night. Blue Santa’s elves and volunteer helpers walked the parade route by the Blue Santa conveyance to collect the toy donations during the parade Friday night.
Donations of toys to help Blue Santa are still be accepted in the marked Blue Santa barrels at local businesses and financial agencies throughout the county, all six county school districts, local Paris Junior College campus, Sulphur Springs Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and One Church, and at least two nursing/assisting living facilities in Sulphur Springs. Donations may also be made online via the QR code, which can be viewed on flyers on each blue barrel and on the Blue-Santa-Sulphur-Springs-Hopkins-County Facebook page, or by calling 903-438-4040. Santa’s helpers are sorting toys as they come in, with distribution scheduled Saturday, Dec. 11.
PTK Induction at the Sulphur Springs Paris Junior College Campus
PTK
These students attending the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center were recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society for two-year colleges. Receiving membership were (left to right): PTK-Sulphur Springs PTK Vice President Nathan Windham, Benjamin Rocha, Robert Steveos, Madyson McMurtry, Rebekah Stanley, Carolina Berg, Michelle Tijerin, Fernando Chimal, Jazmin Florez, and PTK President Celia Hagler. Wyndham and Hagler assisted in the induction program.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Use Of Stocker Calves In Small Acreage
Stocker calves are a good option to raise in small acreage. For this situation to work, stocker calves are either 1) weaned calves of suitable age and body condition for a grazing program, or 2) heifers with brood cow potential, grazed from weaning (at least 4 months old) to yearling age (12 to 14 months old).
Feeder calves, in contrast to stockers, are weaned calves bound for a feed yard because of their weight, age, body condition and/or the market conditions. (An example of a feeder calf would be a fat steer weighing more than 650 pounds.)
Cattle prefer grass rather than browse (trees and shrubs) or forbs (weeds). If your acreage has mostly grass, cattle should do well. However, if you don’t have enough forage to support at least eight to ten stockers for at least 4 months, you shouldn’t choose this enterprise.
In a stocker calf enterprise, your primary product is the forage (grass) and you sell that product by marketing calves you own and have grazed, or by allowing others to graze their animals on your land. A stocker calf enterprise offers these benefits:
Flexibility.
Landowners do not have to own the cattle. When grass is available, grazing can be leased to someone who is willing to pay to graze their stockers on your property. Selling grass usually incurs less risk than buying cattle.
Minimal facility requirements. Stockers can be grazed without an investment in large facilities and handling equipment, unlike a perennial cow/calf operation. The minimum requirement is a small pen or corral from which calves can be loaded into a trailer. Portable cattle panels can be used instead of permanent facilities.
The property should have a permanent perimeter fence constructed with at least five barbed wires, with the top wire at least 50 inches above the ground. Seven barbed wires or 48-inch net wire with two barbed wires above it would be preferred. Barbed wires above the net wire should be either close together (less than 2 inches apart) or far apart (at least 6 inches apart) so they will not catch the leg of a jumping deer. Electric fencing is suitable for internal partition fences but not for a perimeter fence.
The health of incoming calves is of paramount importance to any stocker operator, but especially to the small acreage landowner. A lack of handling facilities combined with inexperienced caretakers could result in a disaster.
Ideally, a group of calves would come directly from the ranch where they were born, preferably from within the county or from an adjacent county. Calves from several sources, or from a commission company, are more likely to incur health problems.
Heifer development is a very viable enterprise for small acreages. Many Texas cow/calf producers have a 1-1-1 operation—one herd, one bull, all in one pasture. As a result, it is difficult for them to develop replacement heifers. The small acreage owner could establish a cooperative agreement with such a producer to pasture weaned heifers for 6 to 8 months and then return them to their owner. An attractive part of this arrangement is the well defined grazing period.
How to Begin
Before looking for stocker calves to pasture, the landowner should decide on an appropriate, yet negotiable, price for the pasture and management services provided. The simplest arrangement is to sell the grazing rights and let the owner of the cattle be responsible for their management. Grazing can be priced several ways, including:
- Cents per pound of weight gain,
- Dollars per head per month, or
- Dollars per hundredweight of initial weight.
The simplest plan is a fixed rate per head per month. With this arrangement no scales are required and the profit or expense can be calculated easily by all parties involved. In general, the monthly pasture charge for calves ranges from $5 to $15 per head. If you include management services such as monitoring water supply, distributing salt, or putting out mineral supplements, supplemental feed or hay, you would charge more. The time required to perform these services depends upon the equipment you have, the size and arrangement of your pastures, and the number of stocker calves involved.
When you are ready to begin, you will need to make contact with cattle producers who need pasture. Newspaper ads and notices posted at feed stores and livestock commission companies can help. Large animal veterinarians and county Extension agents might also help put you in touch with cattle producers.
Why not cows?
Some might wonder why a typical cow/calf operation would not work on small acreage. There are several reasons.
An 1100-pound cow will consume 22 to 33 pounds of forage or 1/2 a square bale of grass hay each day. If a typical stocking rate for native range is 25 acres per animal unit, then 100 acres might support only four animal units, assuming all 100 acres produce grass and are grazable.
It is not economically feasible to own a bull for fewer than 10 to 15 cows. Bulls require even more feed than cows and are hard on facilities and fences.
A cow/calf enterprise is not flexible. When drought reduces available forage, producers must either buy expensive feed or sell some cows to prevent overgrazing. This is the time when cattle prices are lowest. Then, after rains have come and grass has grown, producers buy more cows when prices are highest. With a sell low/buy high strategy, an operation can not be economically viable.
Facilities for managing large animals are expensive and reduce the acreage available for grazing.
A cow/calf operation requires considerable animal husbandry skill. A beef cow represents a $400 to $1000 investment. Naturally, the owner is economically and humanely compelled to care for the animals, but illnesses, injuries, birthing complications and preventive health programs often intimidate the inexperienced producer. Veterinary services can be expensive. Animals must be transported to a veterinary clinic in a trailer (another investment) or the producer must find a veterinarian willing to make “house calls.”
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 9043-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
– Submitted by Dr. Mario Villarino, Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Parking Ordinance, Grant Writer For Senior Center On Dec. 7 Council Agenda
If you have something to say about parking on East Shannon Road, from Broadway Street to Mockingbird Lane, Tuesday night is the time to voice it. Ordinance No. 2794, which would prohibit vehicles from parking on the south side of East Shannon Road along that block, and selection of a company to compose a grant application which would provide additional funding for the Senior Citizens Center to be built on Oak Avenue are among the items Sulphur Springs City Council will be asked to approve at the 7 p.m. meeting Dec. 7.
Administration of the oath of office to two new appointed city employees, an appraisal district appointment, opioid abatement fund council and settlement participation, plat request, several 380 requests and an amendment to the 380 policy, and an agricultural land lease contract are also on the p.m. agenda. An executive session regarding a potential economic development project is also slated for the City Council Tuesday evening.
Shannon Road Parking Ordinance
According to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson, the proposed parking ordinance would only prohibit parking on the south side of East Shannon Road, as a safety measure. Vehicles, including passing truck drivers, would still be allowed to park on the north side of the road.
The city ordinance was to prevent parking between driveways and properties obstructs the view of the road way by motorists attempting to exit business driveways. If the vehicle is large enough, motorists passing on East Shannon Road also are unable to see vehicles that are attempting to enter the south service road from a restaurant parking lot. The causes frequent near misses and has resulted in a a few collisions along that stretch of the south service road.
The ordinance would apply only to vehicles that are parked and left on the south side of East Shannon Road. This would not apply to a long line of vehicles which spanned onto the service road from the drive-thru lane at a restaurant. Those vehicles are not parked. For instance, if 10-20 families all decided to grab take-out after a school or community function that ended at or after 10 p.m., the line would be long and likely would continue out of the burger business parking lot onto East Shannon Road; that would not violate the ordinance as the vehicles are frequently moving up one place in line, with all occupants still in their vehicles. The ordinance applies when the vehicle is parked on the south side of East Shannon Road and the driver and/or occupants exit and leave it for any period of time.
A violation of Ordinance No. 2794, as proposed, would be a Class C misdemeanor offense, punishable with a fine of up to $500. If approved on second reading Tuesday evening.
Click here to view the proposed draft of the East Shannon Road parking ordinance.
380, Economic Development Projects
Although the regular City Council meeting isn’t scheduled to begin until 7 p.m. Dec. 7, the council members are slated to report at 6:30 p.m. for an executive session to discuss a proposed economic development project, identified only as Project Superman. Should the City Council decide to act any proposals for Project Superman, any voting would be conducted during the regular open portion of the meeting which starts at 7 p.m.
Also on the Dec. 7 agenda is a resolution to amend the city’s 380 policy. The 380 agreement allows cities to offer certain incentives such as the city’s infill housing policy, which prioritizes and promotes infill development on vacant and underutilized lots within the City utilizing existing infrastructure to increase the tax base and enhance established neighborhoods with new improvements.
As part of the Dec. 7 consent agenda, the City Council will be asked to consider approving five 380 agreements. Several infill housing agreements were requested this month. (The consent agenda also includes minutes from two past City Council meetings as well as the Sept. 20 Downtown Revitalization Board meeting and Sept. 27 Economic Development Corporation meeting.)
To view the City of Sulphur Springs’ Infill Housing Development (380) policy, click here.
Senior Citizens Center
The City Council too is expected to be presented with proposals submitted through Nov. 30 for grant administration services for Texas Community Resiliency Program grant application to be submitted to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. If approved, the grant would allow the City of Sulphur Springs to not only enlarge the new Senior Citizens Center building to be constructed on 301 Oak Ave. but, if fully funded at the requested amount, would include all wish list items for the new facility, according to Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell.
City staff is expected to make a recommendation from the submissions for a grant writer for the Council to approve. During a special meeting last month, the City Council approved a resolution amending the city’s contract with REES for expansion of base services to the contract for the Senior Citizens Center project. The architectural firm is already working to adapt the design for the new Senior Citizens Center, making it bigger than originally planned due to available funding for the project and including other items requested for the facility as well. The grant, Maxwell said, “would allow us to do all of the wish list.” As proposed, the new facility would be a 8,000-plus square foot activity building for senior citizens’ activities, events, educational opportunities, and would house the Meal A Day program.
The City has $1.4 million to contribute and anticipates asking for $500,000 to $900,000 in grant funds to complete the project. The deadline to submit an application is 5 p.m. Jan. 19, 2022, with estimated award announcements to be made March 10, 2022 and estimated grant contracts starting March 15, 2022.ation has to be in by Jan. 19, 2022.
The project has been delayed several months due to the high cost of materials, which would put the cost of the project over the original budget for the facility.
Other Agenda Items
Also on the 7 p.m. Council agenda is the administration of the oath of office to Nate Smith, who was officially appointed last month and is scheduled to take over duties as City Manager starting tomorrow from longtime city attorney Jim McLeroy, who is retiring this month. A retirement reception is planned for McLeroy Dec. 29 at The Venue.
The oath of office will also be administered to Natalie Darrow, who will become city secretary. Gale Roberts is slated to remain on as assistant secretary through the end of the year, when she retires at the end of the year. Darrow has also been officially appointed and training with Roberts for a few months to take over the duties.
Resolutions are proposed to appoint a person to represent the city on Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors and for the city to participate in Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement.
A plat request has been made by Ramachandra Yennam to plat a 9.31-acre property at the end of Live Oak, Cadi Lane and Marianne Circle into 39 single family lots.
To be considered is a contract lease/license for an agricultural land lease at Thermo Mine Site A.
Both Basketball Teams at Home For Double-Header
It will be a busy day at the SSHS Main Gym. Both Wildcats and Lady Cats basketball teams will be in action at home.
The women’s basketball team will be the first up, as they will be hosting New Boston. The Lady Cats are still looking for that elusive first win on the season, but have found ways to score in their losses.
Coach Erica Delley’s squad had a couple of tough losses in the Glen Rose tournament as they went 0-3 in the tourney.
The losses last weekend dropped the Lady Cats basketball team’s record to 0-13.
They have the chance to get their first win today versus New Boston on Tuesday, Dec. 7 before district play begins next Tuesday.
Junior varsity will get the action going against the Lady Lions at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity at 6:15 P.M.
Moving over to the men’s basketball team, on game days in which both team are in a action one will play on the road and the other at home, but this Tuesday game day brings the Wildcats following up the Lady Cats basketball team.
Coach Brandon Shaver’s unit had a good outing last weekend in the Mansfield tournament, going 3-2 against a litany of 5A and 6A talent.
They went 1-1 Thursday, added two more wins Friday and wrapped up tourney play last weekend with a loss on Saturday.
The Mansfield tournament put Sulphur Springs at 9-2.
The men’s basketball team has the chance to get back in the win column when they host Royce City. According to the official schedule, freshman will play at 5 P.M. followed by JV at 6:15 P.M.
Varsity will conclude Tuesday’s action-packed schedule at the SSHS Main Gym at 7:30 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Miller Grove FFA Monthly Spotlight
Miller Grove FFA students have been busy this Fall with welding, livestock and floral projects, Jackpot Show plans, Leadership competitions and community service.
Spotlight photos and reports by MGHS Ag Sciences Advisor Kristin Fortenberry
Sights And Sounds Of The Season Are Focus Of Sulphur Springs ISD Fine Arts Students
Sulphur Springs ISD Fine Arts students over the next two weeks will provide holiday cheers as the program launches its annual Sights And Sounds of the Season tour across district campuses, including a number of night performances so they can share holiday cheer with the community as well.
Some, like the Jazz Band, started their season early with a concert during Heritage in the Park. Students also performed during the 15th Annual Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade. And, the Wildcat Jazz Band will play next in the lobby of Alliance Bank – be there at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 to hear some holiday jazz tunes from our local students.
The schedule of upcoming Sights and Sounds of the Season programs, released by Sulphur Springs ISD Fine Arts Coordinator Cindy Welch, and additional programs provided by SSISD instructors are shown below. (For a full schedule of performances by the Jazz bands, click here.)
First Known Case Of COVID-19 Omicron Variant In Texas Identified In Harris County
The first known Texas case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.529 variant has been identified in a resident of Harris County. The adult female resident was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Results of genetic sequencing this week showed that the infection was caused by the Omicron variant strain. The case is being investigated by Harris County Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“It’s normal for viruses to mutate, and given how quickly Omicron spread in southern Africa, we’re not surprised that it showed up here,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “Getting vaccinated and continuing to use prevention strategies, including wearing a mask when you are around people you don’t live with, social distancing, handwashing and getting tested when you have symptoms, will help slow the spread of the virus and help end the pandemic.”
The B.1.1.529 variant was identified in South Africa last month and appears to spread more easily from person to person than most strains of the coronavirus. Currently, it is unclear if the Omicron variant is associated with more severe disease. Studies have commenced to determine how effective vaccines are expected to be against infection. However, vaccination is expected to continue to offer protection against hospitalization and death. Omicron is thought to be responsible for a small proportion of the current COVID-19 cases in Texas and the United States.
Vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19 the DSHS report states. Everyone 5 years and older is eligible for vaccination, and everyone 18 years and older should get a booster shot when they are eligible. The latest on COVID-19 in Texas is available at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus, including daily case data and information on testing and vaccination.
Most local pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots, for eligible individuals; contact your pharmacist for additional information.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs offers a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice, with the exception of Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson (1-dose, ages 18 and older). This includes all three brands of boosters for fully vaccinated people. Appointments are not required, but a parent or guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Chicago Man, Garland Woman Caught In A Stolen Car
A 21-year-old Chicago, Illinois man and 18-yarold Garland, Texas woman were caught in a stolen car Sunday night, according to arrest reports,.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a Cadillac DTS shown in a records check at at 6:12 p.m. Dec. 5, 2021 to have been reported stolen in Garland. at mile marker 128 on Interstate 30 east. He took both the driver, Allen Bernard Griffin IV, and passenger, Jessica Marie Holmes, into custody at 6:47 p.m. Dec. 5 on one charge of felony unauthorized use of a vehicle, the legal charge for vehicle theft.
Holmes w, who jail records show is also known by Jazmine Johnson, found via a records check to be wanted in Dallas County on two warrants for violation of probation, which she was on for theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750, according to arrest and jail reports.
Both Griffin and Holmes were released from Hopkins County jail Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, on a $5,000 bond on the stolen vehicle charge. Holmes’ bond was also set at $1,500 per Dallas County charge as well, according to Hopkins County jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
