Hopkins County Food Agencies Need Help Loading Food onto Trucks…Can You Volunteer?
If you could spare about 1 to 2 hours on Mondays, our community could really use your help. Each Monday between 9:00 and 9:30am, the North Texas Food Bank Truck arrives at the Sulphur Springs Church of the Nazarene parking lot. Six food-distribution agencies who serve Hopkins County residents in various communities meet there to receive a shipment of food. Each agency brings it’s own truck and trailer to pick up their food.
Right now, these local agencies need help getting their food loaded onto their trailers and trucks. That is why volunteers are being sought to make the process a bit easier. The drivers are volunteers themselves, and many are senior citizens who help weekly with a food distribution process in their community. The extra helping hands are needed on Monday mornings only, and for 1-2 hours starting around 9am. Once loaded, the local food agencies can transport their food allotments back to their facilities, where it will be stored for their weekly distribution day for needy persons to receive.
According to Karon Weatherman of Meal-a Day, “the agencies are Cumby Food Bank, Fruitful Harvest Food Bank, Calvary Baptist Food Bank, Pine Forest Food Bank, Jehovah Jireh Food Pantry and Meal A Day. ‘Many hands make light work’ is an old adage that’s still true today. These agencies could really use your hands on Monday mornings starting about 9am at Sulphur Springs Church of the Nazarene parking lot, 1300 League Street”.
Paula Perkins: Skirts & Skirmishes, War & Widows: Finding Service Records, Pensions, & More
Paula is a proud 6th generation Texan, involved in family history research over thirty years. Her interest in family history began as a young girl when her parents took her to visit elderly “cousins” along with her maternal grandmother sharing stories and letters of family history. She is a genealogical consultant, lecturer, and genetic genealogist. Currently serving as the TxSGS District I Representative, Collin County Genealogical Society eNewsletter Editor and is a Past President for both Collin County Genealogical Society and the Navarro County Genealogical Society. She is a FamilyTreeDNA volunteer administrator of the following projects: Orphan Train & CCGS, and the Perkins, Cook, Fitch, Glaze DNA Surname projects.
Paula has served in many capacities for genealogical societies and libraries. Paula authored several articles in genealogical and historical journals, appeared on radio and television. Paula has spoken at TxSGS annual conferences, presented educational genealogical topics state wide and in multiple southern states.
Served on the Texas Heritage Online users group with the University of North Texas and the Texas State Library. Previously served as Executive VP Lectures/Fundraising Dallas Genealogical Society, Peters Colony Historical Society President, Executive VP Clayton Library Friends. Paula was appointed multiple terms to serve on a County Historical Commission’s Cemetery and Historical Marker committees. Paula is a TXGenWeb Project County website creator and Coordinator. She has successfully accomplished research in Northern, Southern and National U. S. repositories. Former Adjunct Instructor Genealogy Houston Community College, Past Coordinator & Presenter for Dallas, Texas local PBS station community outreach program in conjunction with PBS series “Ancestors.”
Excerpt
Nearly all your ancestors were eligible for military service. Finding records, pensions, citizen files, enlistment, and draft registrations can easily be located in the digital age. Veterans, widows and heirs made claims creating a wealth of information for genealogists. Migration patterns, children, births, death and marriage records can be proved. Exciting facts and discoveries are just waiting to be discovered in these records!
Read more in the PDF below!
Dike Property Owners Voice Opinions Regarding Planned Solar Facility, Property Rights, Incorporation
Nearly half of Monday morning’s Hopkins County Commissioners Court meeting revolved around planned solar projects in Hopkins County, especially the one greenlit for the Dike community. Dike property voice their opinions Monday morning regarding a planned solar farm in Dike, property rights and incorporation during public comments portion of the meeting.
Dike property owner Michele Barnes has frequently over the last few months voiced her opposition to Hopkins Energy LLC being constructed in Dike as well as her disapproval of the Commissioners Court’s approval of an agreement granting a tax incentive to the company behind it, especially the Precinct 3 Commissioner’s approval. On Sept. 13, Barnes addressed Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley directly regarding his comments Aug. 23 to her at the last court meeting she attended.
Bartley asked Barnes if she also shares the information she presents to the Commissioners Court with the two school districts and hospital district which “did exactly the same thing we did in allowing abatements for that solar company.” He queried why she keeps picking on the Commissioners Court.
“You asked why I didn’t complain to the school or hospital district. According to the property tax mailers I received 2 weeks ago, the school provides services for the children on what affects the school, not my property. The hospital special districts provide services for emergency services, not my property. Commissioners Court makes decisions that affect property in Hopkins County, and more specifically, you make decisions that affect Precinct 3 residents that voted you into office to represent them,” Barnes told Bartley. “I am not complaining to you. I am providing data that myself and other Dike residents have researched and would like to make comments to address our concerns to this Commissioners Court.”
Barnes then addressed the Dike men who during the special July 26 Commissioners Court session spoke in opposition to Dike becoming an incorporated area. She said despite what they stated, those in favor of Dike becoming an incorporated area do not want nor anticipate any taxes being imposed on community residents. She pointed to nearby Tira, an incorporated area that does not
“They are incorporated and have no property taxes, and that is what Dike would like to do also,” Barnes said. “We do not want city property taxes to be imposed when we incorporate Dike.”
“As far as owners’ property rights, if you want solar on your property, put a solar farm on it. But when someone builds an industrial solar power plant complex, you have infringed your property rights upon those around you. This is not just some simple solar panels being placed in the ground to gather energy. It is a complex that will have substations and 80 inverters that make noise,” Barnes said
Bill Pentak with Open Doors Public Relations, who is providing community outreach for Engie, the French company behind Hopkins Energy LLC, later in the meeting said despite what some have been the solar facility will not sound like a four-lane highway – like Interstate 30 – going through Dike, nor do the panel make grinding noises as they rotate.
“The truth of the matter is it’s none of these things. I don’t expect anyone to take my word for it or Engie’s word for it. Go see for yourself,” Pentak said, encouraging any who’ve heard that to park and walk up to the gate of a completed facility to see and hear for themselves the noise level and what a project of this nature will look like.
“You’ll hear the cars that will go down the road but you will not hear these solar panels. They have no moving parts in them. The only thing you will hear is occasionally – about every 15 minutes- you will hear a faint click as the solar panels turn to follow the sun,” Pentak said. “Something has been said about the inverters. You will not hear the inverters. Again solar panels have no moving parts in them. They are silent. Go and see for yourself, that’s what I encourage everyone to do today – go see for yourself.”
Dike property owners Jonas and Melanie Helm, on whose property a portion of the Hopkins Energy LLC solar project is to be located, said they’d recently visited the solar facility in Cunningham and a completed unit in Detroit area and couldn’t hear the solar panels.
“Solar is quiet,” Jonas Helm said. “You get out and you don’t hear things.”
Melanie Helm said they heard “literally no noise” from the completed portion of the project during their visit.
Barnes said she believes the foreign company constructing the solar project in Dike is showing they are trying to take over Dike, by not keeping it in one area. Crossing County Road 3518 shows their expansion into another area.
“If you want to see the devastation that will happen to Dike and other communities in Precinct 1 and 3, just go drive 30 minutes to Cunningham. There, you will see what happens to a town that does not fight against industrial solar power plant complexes,” Barnes told the Commissioners Court and packed courtroom at the regular Sept. 13 Commissioners Court meeting.
Barnes said she and others are fighting against Engie’s efforts to build the solar power plant in Dike because they want to save the rural heritage and keep the community from becoming either extinct or an industrial complex
“I just wanted to say for the record, that Engie is not trying to do anything to hurt the Dike community. We want to reach out to the Dike community. We want to work with the Dike community,” Pentak said. “Engie has set aside $900,000 for charitable philanthropic relations over the lifetime of this project. We want to work with the community. We don’t want to do one thing to hurt it.”
Four other Dike property owners and residents expressed differing opinions to those voiced by Barnes, and a public relations representative for the Dike solar project also spoke during public comments portion of the Sept. 13 Commissioners Court meeting.
Wayne Ray acknowledged he was one of the Dike residents who addressed the court at the Commissioners Court meeting referenced by Barnes, and Monday again voiced his opinions on the topic.
“I don’t want no more government. I don’t want no more taxes. “This year, I’m going to pay taxes on my little lot in Dike, Texas. I will pay more taxes than I paid for the property this year. I do have concerns. I see no reason for Dike to be a city,” Ray said. “We don’t have any services. We don’t have any sewage or water or anything to provide services. I see no reason for a city in Dike.”
He said based on a little research he’s done, it’s his understanding that those seeking incorporation will have to have conducted a survey of the area. As far as he’s concerned, the post office is as close as Dike should be to a city. Based on the information he’s read, only a 2-mile area would be included if some other Dike residents are successful in making Dike an incorporated area. That, he said wouldn’t even come close to being a large enough area to get satellite service extended to Dike.
“I’m not about whether to have solar or not solar, I’m about property rights. And the people that own this property, I’m happy for them that they’re going to get some income out of this property,” Ray said.
“I’m sure not an expert, but the windmills and solar deal have always excited me. It’s a new way. I remember a kid in school and them telling us that someday we’re going to get energy from the sunlight and we’re going to actually get to talk to someone and see them on the phone, and I thought they were nuts. Here were are. We’ve got to have electricity,” Ray said.
“I got to see the coal mine start and I got to see it close. There were lots of people here and all over Northeast Texas that made a good living from the coal mine. Solar power is not going to bring that kind of income to everybody, but the people that own the property, I’m happy for them,” Ray added. “It’s a good income. No cow is ever going to make that kind of money for them.”
Ray said he’s thankful in retirement to be able to travel. One thing he now does is stop and take pictures of solar facilities. One recent photo shows solar, wind power and farming in the same spot.
“I just can’t see what the problem is. I sure can’t see invoking what their desires are on all of us. I just don’t see a reason for a city in Dike,” Ray concluded.
Dike property owner Tim Fuller thanked the Commissioners Court for their “forward thinking in allowing the solar powers to come in.”
“Personally, I think it’s the way to go. We already know fossil fuels are not the way to go in terms of our environment,” Fuller said. “It all goes back to, this is my piece of property. I’d like for this to happen. Thank you.”
Dike property owners Melanie Helm said the decision she and Jonas made to lease their property for solar energy production was not a decision they made hastily nor did they take the potential impact lightly.
“This is something that we prayed about, something that we looked at,” Melanie Helm said. “We’ve done a lot of business decisions over the years. It’s not something we enter into lightly or take for granted. We thought about it. We looked at the pros and cons. It was something that we thought would be a good investment on our property as opposed to the cattle, that would be a lasting investment for our family, something that we could pass on to our family rather than later on after we’re gone having to divide the property up, having to have it sold off in different sections. This is something that we can pass on to our children and their grandchildren, be an investment and an income for them.”
Jonas Helm too emphasized the thought and work put in before he and Melanie reached the decision to allow part of a solar farm to be located on their property.
“We didn’t look at this and just sign a piece of paper and say this is what we want to do. We had a lot of thoughts, we had a lot of prayers about ‘Is this what we want to do?’ for not only for our future, for our kids and our grandkids. Never, once was it done in a malicious act of ‘Oh, I’m going to put this in Dike to destroy the community,” Jonas Helm said.
Only after months of going over the contract with lawyers did Jonas Helm sign an agreement allowing the solar project on the property.
“The contract reads exactly like I want that contract to read. I am part of that community. We bought that property in ’95. I’ve been in that community a lot longer than that, but I have owned that property since ’95,” Jonas Helm told the community members present at the Sept. 13 Commissioners Court meting.
Mrs. Helm noted she lived in Dike for 17 year and grew up in the community attending Sulphur Bluff schools. Solar panels are designated to be installed on the old homeplace she still considers home. Thus, she reasoned, if anyone is affected by it, her family would be. She said those properties the developer was focusing on to become part of a solar project received letters in 2019 notifying them of the company’s goal and intent.
“If you did not receive a letter, then it didn’t pertain to you. You would not be affected by it, and so, therefore, you didn’t know about it.” she said.
Melanie Helm too called the issue a private property issue, of her doing what she chooses to do on her private property, just as others can do with their property as they will.
“I may not like what you put on your property. I may not like what color your house is. I may not like what you do on your property, but it is private property,” Melanie Helm said. “Private property landowners have rights that you can’t take away.”
She said if she put a trailer home park or RV park on her land the community likely wouldn’t fight either of those, but estimated either would be more damaging than solar panels.
“I think if we start taking rights away from private land owners that you take just a little bit of our freedom away – just a little bit, bit by bit,” Mrs. Helm said.
Her husband said he’s heard a lot of reasons given in opposition to solar, including potential flooding, heat and noise. The truth, for Jonas Helm, is that other community members don’t want the solar farm in Dike, which he sees as a private property issue.
“I’ve heard about everything you can possibly come up with, but the truth of the matter is they don’t want it at Dike. And, the problem with that truth is that it’s a private property issue. You don’t want me telling you what you do on your property, but you’re not going to tell me what I want to do to my property,” Jonas Helm said.
The Helms noted the revenue the taxing entities receive from the solar projects will continue to benefit the community for generations after the project is complete, in improvements to Sulphur Springs and Sulphur Bluff ISDs, where public school children in Dike attend classes, as well as infrastructure.
According to Pentak. Sulphur Buff ISD and Sulphur Springs ISD will receive approximately $571,000 a year in combined revenue over the life of this project, a significant sum that could help employee and hire teachers, and help do things for hte schools that they need.
“How can you say you are going to save Dike when you’re trying to take this tax revenue away from the schools, that will help these schools for the next several generations?” Jonas Helm pointedly asked when speaking later during the meeting.
Mrs. Helm thanked the Commissioners Court for being forward thinking and “seeing that this is something that would greatly benefit the county.” Mr. Helm thanked them for “the job you’ve done, for making the decision you did..”
“I think it’s a great decision. I have a lot of people who call me, giving me support on a weekly basis on this project. So I just again wanted to come up here and thank y’all for what you’ve done, and anything I can do to help, just let me know,” Jonas Helm told the elected officials.
Lady Cats Volleyball Loses Five Set Thriller to Texas High
The Lady Cats volleyball team fought all night long, but ultimately it was not enough as Texas High escaped the SSHS Main Gym with a 3-2 five set thrilling victory over Sulphur Springs.
Tuesday’s district match was a back-and-forth affair all night long; each time a team would score a few points and claim momentum, the other team would strike back within reaching distance or tie the game up.
There were 38 ties total in the district loss for Sulphur Springs.
Coach Bailey Dorner’s squad at one point trailed 2-0 in sets to the Lady Tigers, but came back to win sets three and four to force a deciding set five.
Don’t get it twisted, though, even though the Lady Cats were down 2-0, those set losses were an incredibly close 25-20 and 25-22.
And while Sulphur Springs fought tooth-and-nail for their second district victory and second straight, ultimately the final set came to be their undoing as a slow start for the home squad allowed Texas High to take a 5-1 lead heading into a timeout.
While Coach Dorner’s team were able to fight back to tie it up at several points in set five, one momentum swing in the direction of the Lady Tigers proved to be too much for the Lady Cats as Texas High would go on to win the fifth set and match against Sulphur Springs, 15-13.
While a tough loss, considering how hard the Lady Cats fought to win the game, there is plenty to be proud about. Coach Dorner’s team never quit, even when the going got especially tough.
The loss drops the Lady Cats volleyball team’s record to 15-11 overall (1-1 district).
Next up, Sulphur Springs will be back at home for another district match-up, this time the Marshall Lady Mavs. Varsity teams will get the action going at 4:30 P.M. followed by the JV and freshman squads at 6 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.
2021 New Landowner Program Series: Hopkins County Soils
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
One recent educational need identified during our 2020 Leadership Advisory Board meeting was to provide basic education pertinent to Hopkins County to new landowners. With the purpose of providing basic education related to Hopkins County, the 2021 new landowner program was created as a series of 6 mass disseminated articles. I am presenting here the first of the series, “Hopkins County Soils.”
Hopkins County is located in Northeast Texas with almost 800 square miles of space. Traditionally a dairy county, Hopkins maintains a significant amount of dairy cattle (most in the region) and beef cattle. A strong grass producer, the county is mainly composed of Houston Black-Heiden-Wilson (north portion of the county) and Woodtell-Crocket soils (south part of the county). The Houston Black soil is found only in Texas, The first thing you’ll notice about this soil is its dark color and how sticky and moldable when wet. Because of these qualities, it’s often called “black gumbo.” Prairie vegetation contributed to the organic matter and dark color in the surface of these soils. The climate contributed its extreme wetting and drying cycles to the soils shrink-swell nature.
Houston Black soils occur on level to moderately sloping landscapes (0-8% slopes). This soil series is usually more than 200 cm (80 inches) deep. Water will drain through the profile moderately well; however, permeability of water is very slow due to the high clay content (46-60%) in this soil. Every soil can be separated into three separate size fractions called sand, silt, and clay, which make up the soil texture. They are present in all soils in different proportions and say a lot about the character of the soil.
In Houston Black soils, the texture for this series is most commonly clay or silty clay. The topsoil (A horizon) will crack when dry. Cracks can be more than 10 cm (4 inches) wide and 30 cm (12 inches) deep, and remain open for 90 to 150 days in most years. In the top 20 cm (8 inches), these soils typically have a few small shell fragments. Houston Black is known around the world as a classic example of a Vertisol, a soil order which is a soil high in a particular type of clay called smectite. These clays swell during wetting cycles and shrink during drying cycles and cause the soil to crack when dry. In addition to the cracks, the repeated physical movement of the soil commonly results in formation of surface mounds and depressions that are called gilgai. Gilgai is an Australian aborigine term meaning “little water hole”. A common feature of this soil order is the presence of slicken-sides in the subsoil below depths of 30-60 cm (12-24 inches).
The smectite clays are known for their ability to hold on to nutrients tightly enough to prevent them from being lost through water movement, but weakly enough that plants can use them. These nutrients include calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The soils are generally gray to black due to organic matter left from decomposition of the prairie grasses. Because the soil formed from calcareous materials, the soil is slightly alkaline and will fizz when it contacts acid. Before settlers arrived, the region was a tallgrass prairie. Less than 1% of the native prairie exists today. So, this soil reflects the special climate and vegetation conditions of our past. Native vegetation in the Blackland Prairie consists of tall and mid-sized grasses such as little bluestem, big bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, and sideoats grama. Now, the land is devoted to producing crops and animals, and to urban, recreational, and industrial uses.
Houston Black soil is well known for its management problems. Erosion and water problems are the primary concerns. Houston Black soil is very clayey, especially in the lower horizons, below 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches). The great amount of clay hinders the movement of water and air. This affects growth of plant roots. Dry soils are cracked, but when it rains, they close and water enters slowly. If rainfall is intense, water may run off before it can infiltrate into the soil. Available water for plants is very high when the soil is wet and erosion hazards are generally moderate. Often terraces, contour tillage, and grassed water-ways are used to keep water from running off the land before it has time to infiltrate. Construction on this soil is often plagued by cracking from the shrinking and swelling movements. Hydrated lime often is added to stabilize the clays, and also layers of crushed rock and gravel are added to stabilize roads and large buildings. Foundations of buildings also need to be reinforced with steel rods.
The Woodtell series consists of soils that are deep to stratified loamy and clayey residuum derived from sandstone and shale. They are well drained and very slowly permeable. These soils are gently sloping to moderately steep which occur on interfluves and side slopes of ridges on inland dissected coastal plains. The slope ranges from 1 to 20 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1244 mm (49 in) and the mean annual air temperature is about 17.2 degrees C (63 degrees F). These soils are used mainly for pasture. Native vegetation is mainly postoak, blackjack oak, elm and red oak in a fairly dense savannah. In open areas tall and mid grasses such as bluestems, tridens and panicums are common with longleaf uniola under the tree canopy. American beautyberry and hawthorn species are also a part of the understory. The main pasture plants are bermudagrass and bahiagrass with crimson and arrowleaf clovers. There are scattered shortleaf and loblolly pine with small plantations and some dense pine areas on the eastern side of the series province. Some areas are planted to small grain for winter grazing.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
COVID Testing Available By Appointment At CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Do You Need a COVID test, but are unable to get in to see your provider for testing or an appointment?
- CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care in Sulphur Springs is now scheduling patients who are unable to schedule an office or urgent care visit for COVID testing.
- These appointments must be scheduled by calling 903-885-3181, then press option 0.
- We will open the schedule daily by 8:30 a.m., depending on staffing availability, for the COVID drive-through.
- Current tentative available times from testing are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- Patients will be instructed to come to the parking lot of 100 Church St. at their scheduled appointment time and remain in their vehicle. Someone will be out shortly to check them in and begin the appointment.
- Patients will be required to sign up for MyChart.
- Results of COVID testing will be available to patients via MyChart.
Are you an Uninsured Female over 40?
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation wants to help you! The Foundation is offering FREE Mammogram Screenings to uninsured women over 40. Appointments will be Saturday, October 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center, within CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital.
Please call 903.439.4040 to schedule your appointment. This is limited to the first 40 women
Volunteer Chaplains Needed
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is expanding their Volunteer Chaplaincy Program. If you are a licensed or ordained minister and willing to be on-call one day per week or even one day per month, we would appreciate your involvement in praying for our patients and their families.
If you are involved in lay leadership at your church and would be interested in praying with those in need in our community, you are welcome to apply to our Chaplaincy Program as well. All applications will be completed, reviewed, and approved prior to participation.
For more information, please contact Sherry Moore at 903-439-4062 or [email protected]
Thank you for your patience
Due to a sharp increase in Emergency Room visits as a result of the spike in COVID-19, please expect longer wait times than normal. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to provide high quality care in a timely manner. Thank you in advance for allowing us to provide for your healthcare needs, while extending grace to our staff.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will host a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9am to 12pm in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older), Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson* (1-dose, ages 18 and older). Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
September 17, 2021, will be the last date the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available at this location.
Effective immediately, boosters are available for the immunocompromised. Effective September 20, 2021, boosters will be available for all vaccinated and is 8-months post-last dose.
Missing COVID card?
Don’t worry – We manage your medical records if you had your vaccine administered at a CHRISTUS location. You may log in to your “MyChart” account to access the record. If you don’t have a MyChart account, you can call 903.885.3181 to get that setup. You will need a working email address. Or…
Medical Records
Health Information Management is currently closed to the public. If you need medical records, please use one of the following options:
- MyChart – using your MyChart login, please send a message to Medical Records with the information you need and where you would like the records sent.
- Please call 903.439.4045 to speak to staff members who can send your records to care providers for you. If you need the records for yourself, please request an authorization form, complete and return, along with a copy of your identification, to our office via fax or email. The fax number is 903.439.4704.
- We are available by phone Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable. Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 essential support person for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- ICU/ER: 1 essential support person only;
- All other patients may have 1 essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
- Types of Visitors:
Hours of Operation
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs
The CHRISTUS Urgent Care hours of operation are as follows:
- In-Person Care Hours
- Monday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, closed
- Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, closed.
- Virtual Visit Hours
- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- To schedule a virtual visit, please visit urgentcare.christushealth.org, then select your location and click “Virtual Visit”
The Urgent Care is located at 1339 South Broadway St., and the phone number to call is 903.951.1001.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs; the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler; CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital, a partner of Encompass Health; Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility; and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties.
For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Wilson Receives Maximum Sentence For Stalking
A 62-year-old Sulphur Springs man received the maximum sentence for stalking a young man in Hopkins County last December. The stalking charge Rocky Allen Wilson was convicted of was enhanced from a third-degree to a second-degree felony offense because of prior felony convictions.
The stalking case was tried before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt on Aug. 11, 2021. After a morning of testimony and a lunch recess, Rocky Allen Wilson changed his plea to guilt. The 8th Judicial District District Attorney’s Office finished presenting evidence that day, and the sentencing hearing was set for Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, before Judge Northcutt.
Prosecutors called on additional witness to testify in during the sentencing portion of Wilson’s trial, the mother of a then-teenage boy Wilson was convicted of harassing in 2014.
According to state and court records, Wilson was convicted in 1994 and sentenced to 6 years incarceration for the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl; and in 1998 to 2 years incarceration for sexual assault of a 16-year-old female and 20 years incarceration for sexual assault of a 15-year-old female child. The convictions were in Dallas, Collin and Denton counties. Wilson was paroled after about 16 years in jail, and began residing in Sulphur Springs.
Wilson was convicted in 2014 in Hopkins County of harassment of a teenage boy, which resulted in Wilson’s parole on the sexual assault conviction being revoked and Wilson being sent back to prison. After being released from prison again, Wilson returned to Sulphur Springs. He was subsequently convicted in Hopkins County of harassment of a teenage boy in November of 2020 of harassment and placed on probation for the offense.
Shortly thereafter, Wilson was accused of stalking another young man in Hopkins County. He was jailed Dec. 9, 2020, on a warrant alleging the stalking offense, and has remained in Hopkins County jail ever since, according to jail and court records.
Wilson was indicted during the February 2021 Grand Jury session on the stalking charge, with the trial following on Aug. 11, 2021, and sentencing hearing during the 9 a.m. district court session Sept. 13, 2021.
After the mother of the 2014 victim testified Monday during the sentencing hearing, Wilson then testified and was cross-examined, court officials reported. Because of Wilson’s prior felony convictions which required prison time, the stalking charge was enhanced from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony offense, which carries a punishment range of 2-20 years in prison.
On Monday, Judge Northcutt sentenced Wilson to the maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
“Rocky Wilson has plagued this community for far too long. Fortunately, the young men he chose to harass were much stronger, in the long run, than he was. These young men stood up to him and told the truth to the Judge, which resulted in this strong, maximum sentence of 20 years,” 8th Judicial District Attorney Will Ramsay said following the judge’s ruling.
Lady Cats District Volleyball and Playoff Implicating Tennis Match on Deck For This Game Day Tuesday
The Sept. 13 edition of game day Tuesday brings Wildcats team tennis in a huge match and the Lady Cats volleyball team in their second district contest.
Wildcats team tennis has been busy the last few weeks, playing in several tough matches.
And while a number of them were losses to district foes, like Texas High and Longview, Coach Tony Martinez’s squad were able to win some matches against the aforementioned powerhouse tennis programs.
In years past, the Wildcats head coach said, the Lobos have won all or almost all of the matches against Sulphur Springs.
Last Tuesday, when team tennis went to Longview, they were able to win seven matches, with Coach Martinez saying three of the 12 matches his team should have won.
Sulphur Springs was also able to win three matches Saturday when they hosted Kaufman.
Regardless of the result, the Wildcats team tennis coach said his team is mentally prepared for Pine Tree after taking on such tough foes the last few weeks.
Coach Martinez calls Tuesday’s tennis match with the Pirates a de-facto play-in game for the playoffs.
He told his team that if they win versus Pine Tree they are in, if they lose they are out.
For that reason the Wildcats team tennis coach invites any and all Wildcats and LadyCats supporters to cheer on their team for their biggest match of their fall 2021 season.
Those matches will begin at the Tennis center sometime between 2:30 and 3 P.M. so that the teams can best avoid any potential rainfall if possible.
Sulphur Springs will also be hosting the Texas High Lady Tigers for their second district game.
On Friday the Lady Cats volleyball team traveled out to Mt. Pleasant and left having swept the Tigers 3-0 in their first district contest of the fall 2021 season.
Coach Bailey Dorner’s squad has not only won their last three straight games, they have also won four of their last five as district play officially gets underway.
That momentum propelled them all the way to their first district win of their season.
Now the volleyball team’s season record is 15-10.
They will no doubt be hoping to extend their district win streak to two tonight when they host the Texas High Lady Tigers for their second district game of the season.
The Lady Cats-Lady Tigers match-up is set to begin later today starting with freshman and JV squads at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity teams at 6 P.M.
The game will be broadcasted on KSST 1230 AM. If possible, we will livestream the game on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
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.
All Invited to Enter the Hopkins County Hay Bale Sculpture Contest; Judging is October 22, 2021
Hopkins County is holding a hay bale contest this Fall, to recognize the importance of hay on the economy of Hopkins County. There’s plenty of time to plan your design; judging will be held on October 22 and winners will be announced at the Civic Center on October 23. The contest is fun and open to everyone, from individuals and families to churches, businesses and youth organizations, etc. There is no entry fee and you may win a nice prize! Below are the purpose and rules of the event.
The purpose of this event:
- Creating a fun and entertaining way to celebrate Hopkins County traditions
- Recognizing the importance of hay to the economy of Hopkins County
- Recognizing the dairy, beef, swine, poultry and family farmers, and all other industries of agriculture in Hopkins County.
- Developing County Spirit, Teamwork, and Hometown Pride
- Encouraging our community to show support to this industry and have fun!
Two Sculpture Categories :
Multiple Bales: More than 1 Round Bale
Single Bales: 1 Round Bale (with/without square bales)
Prize Money for each category
1st -$200.00 2nd – $100.00 3rd – $50.00 4th – 25.00
Rules and Regulations:
- Entries open to individuals, families, businesses, schools, churches, Group Organizations, 4-H Clubs, FFA Chapters, etc. The contest is open to all of Hopkins County
- Winning Entries used in previous years can be displayed but will not be in the judging category.
- Sculpture must be of good clean, wholesome nature.
- Hay bale sculpture can go up as early as September, but must be completed by Oct 21st.
- Spray Paint and Latex (water based) may be applied to the hay bale. No Oil Base Paint.
- Bales can be placed lying on their side or standing on end.
- You can display a sign for your organization.
- All shapes and sizes of hay may be used to create your hay bale art. You may choose to use round bales, square bales, loose hay or grasses, sticks or wood, cardboard and other materials to create your sculpture.
- Entries will be judged on eye appeal, construction stability, use of materials and creativity.
- Judging will take place on Friday, October 22th.
- Winners will be announced in front of Civic Center on Saturday, October 23rd at 2:00 p.m. by the gazebo!
Mail or Email to Enter
Attach drawing of Bale Sculpture and send to:
Shirley Patchen, 240 Turtle Creek,
Sulphur Springs Texas 75482
Or email to [email protected]
Name ________________________________________________________________
Address for viewing sculpture______________________________________________
Person of contact ___________________________Phone #_________________________
Email Address__________________________________________________________
Entry Form must be received by Tuesday, October 9th
Sulphur Springs High School 2021 Homecoming Nominees Named
The Sulphur Springs High School kicked off the 2021 Homecoming week festivities Monday with recognition of the 11 Homecoming Queen nominees and a Marvelous superhero theme.
Students across the district are encouraged to dress in the designated theme of the day. Sept. 13 was designated Marvel Monday. Students were encouraged to wear a superhero shirt or cape. Students and staff at SSHS as well as across the district donned got in on the action, donning everything from Loki’s green getup to Superman’s concealed shirt with trademarked symbol and a Wonder Woman outfit with wristbands and headband.
The Primary and Elementary campuses will be following SSHS in their Spirit Week themes. Tuesday all SSISD students except those at the Middle School campus, are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts, flower leis, sunglasses and shorts for Tropical Tuesday. Lots of accessories are encouraged on Wacky Wednesday. Students are to dress in styles of a past decade on Throwback Thursday.
SSMS has dubbed Tuesday as Tweedledee day, in which they are encouraged to twin with a friend or group. Wednesday will be Walt Disney Day and Thursday Monsters University day.
All SSISD students, including those at the Middle School, are encouraged to end the week by wearing blue and gold Friday to show their Wildcat Spirit. SSHS will have a pep rally in the school gymnasium at 3 p.m. to get the SSHS Wildcat Football team pumped up for the game. Pre-game activities, including recognition of the Homecoming Court will take place around 6:40 p.m. Sept. 17, at Gerald Prim Stadium. Kickoff is slated to take place at 7:30 p.m., or immediately following the pre-game activities.
The 11 SSHS students recognized Monday morning as the SSHS 2021 Homecoming Nominees include:
- Haven Walker Moore, daughter of Shanequa and Dave Moore.
- Hannah Williams, daughter of Michelle Williams and James Williams
- Victoria Macias, daughter of Stephanie and Jose Macias
- Janiya Gatlin, daughter of Natalie Gatlin, and granddaughter of Nelson Gatlin
- Hallie Hinton, daughter of Andi and Trey Hinton
- Katie Tiemeyer, daughter of Jeff and Amy Tiemeyer
- Desirea Hall, daughter of Yolanda and Skeet Hall
- Ki’Yonna Redmon, daughter of Selena Givens and Byron Redmon
- Rylee Penny, daughter of Tracie and Keith Penny
- Litzy Chacon, daughter of Jose Martin and Tomasa Chacon
- Harley Speed, daughter of Dustin and Sirena Speed
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.
