Preparation for the Fall Semester at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center Campus
New student Andres Santos gets information from EOC Advisor Maria Zuniga as he completes preparation for the fall semester at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus. For information about the college, call 903-885-1232.
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.
What To Do If Your COVID Card Is Missing
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sports Medicine
FREE Saturday Athletic Injury Clinic for student athletes of all ages is here! Saturday sports clinic are held every Saturday from 9am to 11am, on August 21 through November 13. Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic Office at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call our office at 903.885.6688.
Please help us preserve our masks for our healthcare providers, and BRING YOUR OWN MASK
With COVID cases rapidly increasing in our community, the hospital requires all visitors to wear a mask while in the facility. There is no entry into the hospital without a mask.
Visitors may wear a cloth or medical mask. Thank you for your continued support of the safety of our patients and associates.
Hospital Bed Availability
While some hospitals are on divert due to a “critical COVID surge,” CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital continues to serve patients, and has available hospital beds, both for COVID and non-COVID diagnoses.
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:
Outpatient Psychiatry Service Changes
Access Physicians Multispecialty Clinic of Sulphur Springs will no longer offer psychiatry services, effective September 1, 2021.
Psychiatry services will be available locally through Forefront Rush Medical Services, P.C. (“Forefront”).
Forefront’s services will be available at 105 Medical Plaza in Sulphur Springs at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. Any patient desiring to be seen by Forefront will need a referral from a provider practicing at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Sulphur Springs. You may contact CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic at (903) 885-3181 about obtaining a referral.
We recommend that you find another specialist to take care of your psychiatric medical needs. If you do not know another specialist, you may contact the Texas Medical Board for resources.
If you wish to obtain copies of your medical records, please come by our office and complete a “Medical Records Release Form” to have your records released to you or to have your records sent to another provider. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed for lunch from 12 – 1 p.m.). Please call ahead at 903-919-5034.
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
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report Aug. 30-Sep. 5, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department’s weekly media report for Aug. 30-Sept. 5, 2021, included the following:
Arrests
- Robert McKenzie, 39 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on August 30, on a Winnsboro Municipal Court warrant and a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole & Pardons blue warrant.
- Christopher Smith, 34 years of age, of Mount Vernon, was arrested on August 31, for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
- Jordan Grant, 36 years of age, was arrested on September 2, 2021 for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
- Francisco Muro, 40 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on September 3, on multiple Municipal Court warrants for speeding, failure to maintain financial responsibility, no driver’s license, and vehicle without required equipment.
- Jana Thomas, 32 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on September 3, on a Franklin County warrant for criminal mischief.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 150 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 53 citations and 55 warnings during this reporting period.
Tuesday Gameday Brings Another Wildcat Team Tennis District Match-Up, Lady Cats Volleyball
The Sept. 7 edition of Tuesday gameday brings Wildcats team tennis in another district bout, and the Lady Cats volleyball team playing in their second straight home game.
The tennis team, lead by Tony Martinez, will be participating in their third district match-up of their fall 2021 season.
They will be participating in six total matches against district foes.
Later this afternoon, the Wildcats will be out in Longview taking on the Lobos.
Last Tuesday Coach Martinez’s team was able to win a match against an always dominant Texas High program, but that was all they could manage in a 18-1 defeat at the Wildcats Tennis Center at the SSISD Athletic Complex.
Team tennis will no doubt be looking for similar results that they achieved in their district opener on Aug. 24 versus Mt. Pleasant where the Wildcats won 19-0 when they travel out to Longview to play the Lobos at 4 P.M.
Moving over to the other team in action on Sept. 7, the Lady Cats volleyball team will be hosting their second-straight home game after not having holding one on their home court in almost a month.
Tonight the Pleasant Grove Hawks will be at the Main Gym in Sulphur Springs High School to take on the Lady Cats volleyball teams.
On Friday, Coach Bailey Dorner’s team hosted Edgewood and won a tough, five-set thriller in which they were able to come-from-behind twice, from down 1-0 and down 2-1 to win 3-2 over the Lady Bulldogs.
The win increased their overall record to 13-10.
Now, the Lady Cats volleyball team will be hoping to extend the win streak to two when they host the Pleasant Grove Hawks in the SSHS Main Gym starting with Freshman/JV squads at 4:30 P.M., followed by the varsity teams at 5:30 P.M.
After Tuesday’s match, Coach Dorner’s team will have their first district match of the year on Friday when they travel to Mt. Pleasant to take on the Lady Tigers.
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.
City Council To Consider Approving Budget, Lower Tax Rate, Increase To City Utility Fees At Sept. 7 Meeting
Sulphur Springs City Council has a full agenda tonight (Sept. 7, 2021), with numerous financial items to be considered, including the proposed budget, tax rate, city utility fees, permit fees, asset forfeiture and EDC budgets, The agenda also includes a rezoning request, utility easement request, bids for water materials for the College Street road project, and resolutions for playground equipment for Pacific Park and four requests for 380 agreements.
Budget and Tax Rate
Ordinance 2783 is an appropriations ordinance for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and Ordinance 2784 sets the tax rate for FY 2021-22. The tax rate is factored based on a 9 page formula set by the state, which can be viewed by clicking here. The City Council is slated prior to these items to hold a public hearing prior to these items to give community members who have questions or wish to address the city officials regarding the tax rate to do so.
The proposal tax rate is just over 1-cent lower for the 2021-22 tax year. That means instead of being charged $0.44 per $100 property value, Sulphur Springs taxpayers will be charged $0.42692 per $100 property value, with $0.06451 of the tax rate designated to go toward debt service and the remaining $0.36241 to go toward maintenance and operations expenses, according to the 2022 Proposed Budget, which the city will also consider at the Sept. 7 meeting.
While the tax rate is a little bit lower, that does not, however, mean that tax bills will be lower. Most property values are appraised higher this year which, depending on the appraised value of the property, likely will mean taxpayers’ city property tax bill will still increase. The tax rate is derived using the formula assigned by the state. While the City Council sets the tax rate, within the established parameters, the elected city board does not have any say in appraisals, which are conducted by the Appraisal District or their designees.
| GENERAL FUND REVENUE- PROPERTY TAX | FY 2018-19 Per $100 Property Valuation | FY 2019-20 Per $100 Property Valuation | FY 2020-21 Per $100 Property Valuation | FY 2021-22 Per $100 Property Valuation (Proposed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance & Operation | $0.38260 | $0.37204 | $0.36713 | $0.36241 |
| I&S (Debt Service) | $0.057400 | $0.067960 | $0.072370 | $0.64510 |
| Property Tax Rate Per $100 Valuation | $0.44000 | $0.44000 | $0.44000 | $0.42692 |
The rate will raise $507,107 more in total property tax revenue than last, an 11.3 percent increase, with $52,715 in tax revenue coming from new property added to the tax roll over the last year, according to the proposed budget information posted for review.
For instance, the taxable value on an average homestead in Sulphur Springs was estimated at $105,229 in the 2020-2021 tax year, but would be $115,012 in tax year 2021-2022That’d increase the tax bill for the average homestead by about $28, from $263.01 in 2020-21 to $491.01 in 2021-22, according to the Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase (an increase in overall tax revenue, not tax rate) posted in August by the City of Sulphur Springs.
Also to be discussed and considered are the asset forfeiture budget, Economic Development Corporation Budget. The city budget and tax rate, will be read for the first time at the 7 p.m. meeting Sept. 7, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, then presented again later in the month at another special council meeting for second reading and final approval.
City Utility Rates
Three other ordinances as proposed would increase and set the city’s water, sewer and sanitation rates by an estimated $1.33 per city utility bill for residential customers. That would raise the minimum city utility bill from $47.86 to $49.19 per month for residential customers, as proposed.
The monthly water demand charge would increase from $7.86 to $8.02 for those with water meters less than four inches in size with a monthly demand charge plus a charge of $4.05 for each 1,000 gallons of metered water. Monthly water rates for active connections with the system with meters 4 inches or larger would be set at a minimum $939.52 for 0-230,000 gallons of water, with an additional fee of 3.78 per 1,000 gallons of water for all usage above 230,000 gallons. (see page 110 of the 2022 proposed budget to view Ordinance No. 2785 setting the water rate)
Ordinance No. 2786 (page 112 of the proposed city budget) would increase sewer rates from $27.65 to $28.10, for 0-4,000 gallons usage, and $4.07 per thousand gallons usage for over 4,000 gallons, figured based on water consumption. The proposed 2 percent sewer rate increase would help keep up with inflation, which has increased the cost the city pays for chemicals, materials and employee wages to treat wastewater, city officials reported at an August budget work session.
Ordinance No. 2787 (pages 112-113 in the proposed city budget) would increase the city sanitation rate (trash service) 5 percent, from $12.45 plus tax to $13.07 plus tax for hand collection of trash twice a week for each dwelling unit, multi-family residences for each unit, and mobile home park for each unit counted in the park. The monthly charge for commercial collection would be $26.15 per commercial unit. Business rates would be billed per yard from 3-8 years based on frequency of collection weekly. For a temporary dumpster, one used for less than 6 months), a $102.84 delivery fee would be charges as well as any other pass through fees charges. Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Lesa Smith explained that the City of Sulphur Springs’ contracts with Sanitation Solutions and Republic Services; their contracts allow for the two companies to adjust the rates charged to the city by the CPI in October of every year. As of June 30, 2021, that amount was up 6.1 percent from June 2020. Last year, the contracted prices increased by 1.3 percent, but the city did not increase customer rates.
The City Council too will be asked at the 7 p.m. meeting Sept. 7, to consider approving on first reading ordinances setting these rates, and another establishing a master fee schedule of costs, fees and rates associated with permitting, utility services and other services provided by the city. The ordinances, if approved, would be presented again at a meeting later in the month for second reading and final approval.
Other items
The City Council will also be asked to consider four 380 agreements, one each for property at: 219 Craig Street, 447 Houston Street, and Lots 3R and 1R at 410 Houston Street.
Bids are expected to be considered and a contract potentially awarded for water materials for the College Street road project, adopting an annual investment policy; an easement with Oncor Electric Delivery LLC at Coleman Park Water Tower; an ordinance to rezone Lot 10 A of Town Addition at 618 Oak Avenue from multifamily (a house) to light commercial, for future business use; authorize updated service credits; final reading of a request to rezone the 1.89-acre Lot 3R-3 at 125 Weaver Drive from heavy industrial to multifamily, for potential future residential development on the site; and playground equipment for Pacific Park.
DSHS Announces 126th Hopkins County COVID Death
186 New Cases, 118 Recoveries, 292 Active Cases Of Coronavirus Reported So Far In September
Texas Department of State Health Services had announced the 126th Hopkins County COVID death Monday. A total of 186 new cases, 118 additional recoveries and one coronavirus death have been reported for Hopkins County during the first 6 days of September 2021, leaving 392 Hopkins County residents who still actively had the virus at noon on Labor Day.
COVID Deaths
According to the DSHS County Trends dashboard, the latest confirmed COVID death among Hopkins County residents occurred on Sept. 1. That makes 42 Hopkins County residents who have died in 2021 as a direct result of coronavirus, and 11 of those deaths occurred in August, 126 county residents who’ve died from COVID-19 since July 17,2020. (Although the first Hopkins County COVID-19 case was confirmed on March 27, 2020, the county had no confirmed COVID deaths until July 17, 2020.) That’s 0.34 percent of the overall Hopkins population who’ve died from COVID-19. The fatality rate increases to 4.94 percent for all county residents who’ve had COVID since last year who have died from the virus.
DSHS only reports COVID deaths as those deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate. A medical certifier, usually a doctor, determines the cause of death. DSHS does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause, according to the DHS website.
(In other words, if person confirmed to have COVID was in a car wreck while on the way to the hospital or doctor, and perished as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, the cause of death would not be reported by the person certifying the death certificate or by DSHS as a COVID-19 fatality. Similarly, if a person who has cancer or heart disease is diagnosed with COVID and dies as a result of complications from the cancer or heart failure, the death would be listed as cancer or heart failure, not COVID.)
Fatalities are reported by where the person lived as listed on the death certificate. So, the death of a person from COVID, regardless of the place of death, would be counted in their home county’s COVID death count, not for the city or county where they died.
Case Counts
Last week, Aug. 29-Sept. 4, a total of 100 Hopkins County residents had received lab-confirmed positive COVID test results. Nine additional county residents tested positive on Sunday and 15 new lab-confirmed cases were reported on Sept. 6, 2021. That’s 124 new lab-confirmed cases in Hopkins County so far in September and 175 new lab confirmed cases since Aug. 29. A total of 1,474 Hopkins County residents have received positive lab tests results for COVID in 2021. Cumulatively. since March 12, 2021, that’s 2,553 confirmed COVID cases in people whose addresses include Hopkins County zip codes. That means 6.88 percent of all Hopkins County residents since last March have received lab confirmed COVID-19 test results.
DSHS uses the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition to identify confirmed COVID case. A person who has tested positive for COVID through a molecular test that looks for the virus’ genetic material is, according to the CDC, a confirmed case.
A total of 73 probable cases were also noted for Hopkins County last week, 60 of them during the first 4 days of September. Two additional probable cases have been reported this week, for a total of 75 probable cases in the past 9 days, 62 during the first 6 days of September. So far this year, 886 probable cases have been reported for Hopkins County. Since Nov. 1, 2020, when the state began tracking probable cases, 1,988 Hopkins County residents were reported as having probable COVID cases. That’s 6.34 percent of the overall population of Hopkins County considered to have COVID since March of 2020.
DSHS also uses the CDC definition when identifying and reporting probable COVID cases. A person who has either tested positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis is considered by the CDC as a “probable case” of COVID.
Combined, Hopkins County has had 186 new cases reported during the first six days of September, and 250 new confirmed and probable cases reported since Aug. 29. Cumulatively, 2,360 Hopkins County residents have had COVID in 2021 and 4,541 since March 27, 2021. That’s 12.25 percent of the county population who’ve had COVID (lab-confirmed and probable cases) since March of last year.
A total of 147 Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19 last week, 87 from Sept. 1-4, 2021. Fourteen additional recoveries were reported on Sunday and 17 on Monday, for a total of 118 Hopkins County residents who’ve gotten over the virus in September. The 31 new recoveries this week increase the total so far this year to 1,957. Cumulatively, that’s 4,024 of the 4,541 Hopkins County COVID cases reported as recovered.
The active COVID-19 case count remains high, but has continued to decline over the past three days, from 403 on Friday to 397 on Saturday, 395 Sunday and 392 Sept. 6. Last week, the daily case count was an average 385.25, with a low of 293 on Monday and peaking at 403 on Friday.
To put that into perspective, nine county residents tested positive and six recovered from Sept. 1-6, 2020, for a cumulative total on Sept. 6, 2020 of 252 cumulative cases (0.68 percent of the overall population) and 202 recoveries since March, with 12 active cases and eight COVID fatalities (0.2 percent of the total population and 3.17 percent of the overall cases.)
Hospital Reports
On Sept. 5, 2021, Trauma Service Area hospital which includes all hospitals in Northeast Texas including CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, held at total of 194 COVID-19 patients, including 119 in general beds, 75 in ICU beds, 24 on ventilators and 20 who COVID patients who were admitted in the previous 24 hours.
That’s out of 843 total staffed hospital beds, which contained 653 patients, leaving 116 hospital beds and one adult ICU bed available, along with 59 available ventilators.
COVID Hospitalizations accounted for 23.01 percent of the total hospital capacity in TSA on Sept. 5, 2021, the second lowest in the past week, and down for the second time in as many days. Overall, COVID patients accounted for 23.57 percent of the hospital capacity in TSA F over the past 7 day (Aug. 30-Sept. 5) in TSA F.
High Speed Vehicle Pursuit On I-30 Results In Manhunt In Dike Area, Multiple Arrests
A high speed vehicle pursuit along Interstate 30 in Hopkins County Sunday night resulted in a manhunt for the occupants who fled after their vehicle was disabled on a county road in the Dike area. All suspects had been located and were in custody by 9:30 a.m. Labor Day, according to police and sheriff’s reports.
Cumby Police Officer Justin Talley initiated the traffic stop near the 110 mile marker on I-30 east at 7:54 p.m. Sept. 5, 20210. He attempted to stop a gray Dodge Charger being driven at a rate of 98 miles per hour on I-30 east, a 75 mph speed zone. Instead of stopping, however, the driver accelerated to and continued on I-30 at speeds in excess of 130 mph.
The car, after about 20 miles, turned off I-30 in northeastern Hopkins County. It was disabled on County Road 3563. The suspects fled on foot into the Dike area.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 8:36 p.m. were actively assisting in the search. The manhunt in the Dike area reportedly focused on the area west of County Road 3563, just north of FM 69 north for the suspects, reported to be five black males. They posted a notice on the department’s Facebook page, asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Dike area to call 911.
At 10:38 p.m. Sunday, Cumby Police Officer Talley and HCSO Deputy Jason Lavender reported 18-year-old Christopher Kirby Keel and 19-year-old Jahlon Crisean Martin, both of Little Rock, Arkansas, had been located on a county road and were taken into custody for possession of the keys to the disabled Charger, inside of which 2.15 ounces of marijuana was allegedly found. Martin was confirmed to be the owner of the car. Keel took credit for driving the vehicle during the pursuit.
A Texas Department of Public safety helicopter and Texas Department of Criminal Justice search hounds were called in to assist the Cumby and county officers in their search for the three remaining suspects. By 1:11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, all except two of the suspects were in custody. HCSO at that time reported the DPS helicopter and prison dogs had exhausted their capabilities in the search.
After interviewing the suspects in custody, HCSO officers speculated the unaccounted for pair may have been picked up by a motorist. Deputies remained still in the area and citizens were cautioned to remain alert throughout the night for anyone or anything suspicious, and asked them to call 911 if they observed anything that could be related to the pursuit and manhunt.
A citizen reportedly traveling the area for work later Monday morning reportedly spotted the remaining pair and held them until officers could arrive to take custody of them.
Hopkins County jail reports show Brayhlon Nathaniel Martin and Deangelo Dayyon Neely, both 18, were also booked into Hopkins County jail early Sept. 6, 2021, on evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and possession of 2 ounces or more but less than 4 ounces of marijuana charges.
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.
Houston Man Arrested In Hopkins County On Parole Warrant
A 53-year-old Houston man was arrested in Hopkins County Sunday morning on a parole warrant, according to arrest and jail reports.
Cumby Police Lt. Paul Robertson reported stopping a 2010 Dodge Charger a 10:45 a.m. Sept. 5, 2021, in Cumby for a traffic violation. During a roadside interview, Robertson discovered James Alfred Cox-Ramey was wanted by Texas Department of Criminal Justice for violation of parole, which he was on for homicide, according to arrest reports.
The Houston man was arrested and transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked at 11:48 a.m. Sunday on the warrant. The car was impounded. The violation was alleged to have occurred on May 10, 2021, Robertson noted in arrest reports.
Cox-Ramey, who is also known by James Alfred Ramey, Raymond Alfred, James Alfred Cox, Jerry Lee Grimes, Ramey James, Alfred Ramey and James Ramey, was held in the county jail Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, on the TDCJ charge, acording to jail reports.
HHS Recognizes National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
AUSTIN – During the month of September, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is working to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and increase awareness about suicide prevention. HHSC encourages Texans to learn about available resources and to become aware of the common warning signs of suicide.
“We want every Texan who’s facing a crisis, or knows someone who is, to know that you are not alone and help is available,” said HHS State Suicide Prevention Coordinator Tammy Weppleman. “It’s important that we share every resource at our disposal and have conversations about this serious public health issue.”
In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide was the second leading cause of death for Texans ages 10 to 34 years old and nearly 4,000 people were lost to suicide statewide.
The most common warning signs of suicide include talking about or writing about suicide, expressing hopelessness or worthlessness, planning or looking for a way to kill themselves, increasing use of substances and withdrawing from family and friends.
If someone is at risk for suicide, it’s important to act right away, offer hope and get help as soon as possible. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK) is available 24/7 to connect people in crisis and concerned family members with counselors for emotional support and other services.
In addition to the crisis line, Texas is highlighting other resources to help Texans in need:
- The Crisis Text Lineprovides access to free counseling through text messaging 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text TX to 741741 for assistance.
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255 (TALK) offers guidance and assistance for people and their loved ones experiencing thoughts of suicide.
- Dedicated line for veterans: press 1.
- For people who are deaf and hard of hearing: use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 800-273-8255.
- For Spanish speakers: La Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: 888-628-9454.
- The Suicide Prevention Wallet card, in Englishand Spanish, quickly identifies warning signs and specific steps to help someone who is struggling.
- The Texas Veterans + Family Alliance Grant Program enables communities to identify and address mental health needs of veterans and their families.
- The Texas Mental Health Program for Veterans is a community-based resource for veterans and their families struggling with suicide.
- HHS offers free Mental Health First Aid eight-hour courses to public school and higher education employees to help them recognize risk factors and warning signs of a person in distress and how they can reach out to help and connect them with resources.
- People can call the Local Mental Health Authority in their area to be connected to mental health services.
For more information about suicide prevention, visit the HHS Suicide Prevention webpage.
Construction Of New EMS Station Hits Snag, But Continues Making Progress
Whitley: Medicaid Waiver, Pandemic Impact Hospital District Budget But Overall Tentative Audit A “Great Report”
Construction of the new EMS station/hospital district headquarters on Airport Road is progressing but did hit a snag recently, EMS and hospital district officials reported this week during the regular meeting of Hopkins County Hospital District. An outside auditor also noted that while things are looking much better financially for EMS and the hospital district, the overall budget is impacted by Texas Medicaid Waiver, QIPP and the pandemic.
New EMS Station
Ground work is well under way at the Airport Road site, just across the street from CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County EMS’ current station. The dirt is being leveled out and the site raised to make it suitable for the new EMS/HCHD headquarters. Grading has been delayed, however.
“They had some utility line issues that they are working on. They’re having to resurvey some different things with the grades. So, other than that, there’s no big update – unless there’s some big utility line issues, but they think they can work through some grade issues on the driveways. They’re trying to solve that,” Brent Smith, Hopkins County EMS Director/HCHD chief operating officer, told the hospital district board at their Aug. 30 meeting.
Financial Matters
Deborah Whitley with BKD CPAs noted she’d normally present the annual hospital district audit findings in March, however, with everything going on with CHRISTUS, the audit was delayed this year.
She said industry factors such as the 1115 Texas Medicaid waiver and turmoil surrounding it can have a significant impact on healthcare. The district has benefitted from it financially for a number of years. The waiver is the transition period from the time a state hasn’t extended Medicaid to the period it has extended it. Texas has been under a waiver extension since 2011. Prior to the Trump Administration’s departure, Texas filed for another 10-year waiver. The Trump Administration approved the waiver. In April of 2021, the Biden Administration canceled the waiver extension. Texas then sued the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services over their right to cancel, then the state reapplied in July for an extension. The state hadn’t been approved for the extension as of Aug. 30. The old extension expires in September 2022.That gives the state a year to put it together.
However, the QIPP program is a part of the extension application program. (The Quality Incentive Payment Program serves as a resource to help nursing facilities achieve transformation. This performance-based program encourages NFs to improve the quality and innovation of their services through implementation of program-wide improvement processes for which facilities are compensated for meeting or exceeding certain goals. Improvement is based upon several indices of success, including quality metrics that are collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to Texas Health and Human Services. If the waiver isn’t renewed the HCHD will lose a couple of million dollars in funding, Whitley noted. For instance nursing home QIPP revenues to actual activity before adjusted put $1,389,661 in the HCHD.
HCHD CEO Ron Folwell, who attended the meeting via conference call, asked if there were any projects on when that would happen and what that would be like if it does indeed happen.
“There are federal funds out there. Texas has got to figure out a way to access those federal funds. So the State of Texas has to be able to figure out what are the parameters we’re going to live under to access those funds. That’s the dispute right now because it’s the reshuffling of money,” Whitley said. “I would tell you that I think it’s a very high percentage that the waiver is approved but I don’t have any odds on the way the funds are going to be allocated to what programs. So, I don’ t know how many dollars of funding, Ron, the QIPP program will actually get.”
Hopkins County Hospital District has receive about $3.5 million from the nursing home program. In 2017, HJCHD receive a profit of $16,000, the funds went up the next year to $850,000, fell to $750,000 and in the past year was almost $2.1 million from funding from the 1115 waiver through the nursing home program, according to financial BKD representative.
Whitley also said while pricing transparency isn’t something that HCHD has to worry about day-to-day, but since the district was so close to the hospital operations for so long, it’s something the Hospital District Board needs to be aware of. A deadline of Jan. 1, 2021, was set for hospitals give to patients inforamtion about charges, out-of-pocket costs and things of that nature. CMS is putting in place a monitoring and enforcement plan for hospitals that are out of compliance to follow.
“It’s important for you to know the whole healthcare system is working a lot on pricing transparency. Following a lot of this, he health plans are going to have requirements for some of that transparency as well. There should be information on a hospital’s website for your to see information on different charges for different services. If those aren’t as transparent, CMS is going to start doing website auditors and put hospitals on affirmative action plans on when they are going to become compliant and if they are not and penalties potentially following,” Whitley said. “that’s just important for you as a board to know that is probably one of hte things CHRISTUS is having a challenge with to get done.”
Also in early 20202, the federal government put $175 billion for the health care industry, nursing homes included. The Hospital District received about $4 million in provider relief funds. Those funds were received prior to June 30, 2020. Those funds had to be expended by June 30, 2021. The reporting of those funds will have to be done prior to Sept. 30, 2021Any funds not spent for the purpose for which the district received them, those funds will have to be returned by Oct. 30, 2021. That means an enormous amount of reporting nation wide on a portal. That should receive high priority in September between the Hospital District and the nursing homes, and has already begun, Whitley noted.
Annual Audit
Whitley presented what she called a “great report” to the Hospital district during the Aug. 30 meeting. The bottom line reported in 2020 was an increase of $4,9 million, up from the 2019 net income of $2.1 million, Whitley reported. The QIPP program, which accounted for $1,389,661of that increase and improved EMS efficiencies were huge factors in that gain, Whitley reported.
EMS receivables brought in $675,000 more than estimated collections and $686,754. She reported an increase of $2.5 million in 2020 to the district’s operating income. EMS’ net revenue increased by $1 million and nursing home revenue increased buy $1.3 million. Property tax revenue increased by $339,000 from Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020, Another $114,000 gain from insurance proceeds on ambulance that was impaired,
However, the district did see a $179,000 decrease in interest income.
She noted that the two stapled packets presented to the board, each is a tentative draft for review purposes because the EMS director was still trying to confirm one number that’s material enough that she wasn’t quite comfortable list the documents as a final audit. There are one or two monetary changes that could be impacted, although Whitley and the HCHD officials don’t think so, If nothing changed over the last week or when Smith provided the final information needed, the final audit will look exactly like the packet presents presented at the Aug. 30 meeting, she noted.
From 2019-2020, HCHD’s cash went up about $3 million from $10 million to $13 million.
“That’s a big jump. That’s the reason I know your bottom line of $4.9 million is good, because I see cash in the bank, cash in hand. Another amount that changed is the amount of the QIPP program. You were expecting at the end of Sept. 30 was $4.4 million compared to about $3 million in the previous year, so that’s $1.4 million additional dollars in the QIPP program that still had not been received,” Whitley noted.
She said that $4.1 million of the $4.9 million in prepaid nursing facility fees was provider relief funds distributed to nursing homes. About $810,000 of that was Medicare advance payments that came in for the nursing homes.
All of those funds came in and were funneled back out except about $30,000, shown as a receivable on the books.
“You’re on the hook for this money if the nursing homes don’t pay it back, And until that revenue is recognized, I’m keeping it on the books because that would be a holdback from you from the nursing homes if they don’t give you everything that you need to be able to report that correctly. I’m recording it as received and you’ve given it to the nursing homes,” Whitley said. “That’s the money I would expect you’ll see in your net revenue. It recognizes revenue in fiscal year 2021. Once you’re earned the right to keep that, report it as spent.”
Prepaid expenses and other expenses was up about $950,000, That’s up $400,000, with the bulk of that prepaid rent from CHRISTUS. The district also has another $600,000 increase from EMS deployments.
In September 2020, there was still about $600,000 to account for. Smith and the auditors were sure EMS had received $200,000 of that amount, but not the remaining $400,000. Smith was trying at the time the report was composed to locate that information as the COO was out on medical leave. He noted at the Aug. 30 meeting that the funding comes from Texas Department of State Health Services finances, which works at a slower pace.
Assets were up about $9 million this time last year. Two new ambulances were purchased in 2020, for about $150,000 each. Construction progress, the start of the new EMS headquarters and hiring or an architectural firm, had just begun at a cost of about $175,000.
After the deal in which CHRISTUS agreed to purchase HCHD’s remaining shares in the Healthcare Alliance is reflected in the budget, the long term debt of $24 million for bonds will be paid with proceeds from the deal and go away. Until then, it will remain on the books although paid.
Funding was expected to come into the QIPP funds to be be distributed to nursing homes at hte end of FH 2020. More was expected to come in last year, and more is expected to be paid out for the nursing home’s share of the QIPP program funding, Whitley said. The more than $4,121,000 doled out, the nursing homes have to provide poof the funding was used as allocated so the hospital district, as owner, doesn’t have to pay it back.
A $3.2 million lease security budget on the balance sheet represents the initial lease money that CHRISTUS put up at the very beginning of the deal. That’s goes away during the course of the sail. It will be converted into the overall sales proceeds.
Overall, HCHD had an equity improvement of $4,922,000 for the year, Whitley said.
She noted initially reported to the district as profit was $6 million, but an adjustment of $1.2 million was made, reducing that to $4.9 million, the majority of which was reconciling cash throughout the year, the auditor noted.
Looking at district operations, EMS has traditionally and over the last 3 years finished with a negative balance. In 2020, that number finally flipped to a positive number, due largely to the $600 in federal funding the EMS service received to cover expenses while responding in other areas to emergency or critical medical situations.
Smith noted the district has already had quite a few deployments in 2021 as well, which should help improve the bottom line in the coming budget year which finishes this month as well.
Indigent care funds balance, depreciation on buildings and interest expense on the bond payment also are in the 2020 budget, which comprise a loss.
When comparing current cash in excess of current liabilities, HCHD’s liquidity continues to grow stronger annually. If all funding stopped with not even a dollar in additional funding coming in, HCHD could operate EMS for 3 years with the amount of cash the district had on hand on Sept. 30, 2020.
“Over the last 3 years, I’m happy to report you’ve done a better job of getting those bills turned into cash sooner. Not that the cash is a lot, but you’re getting it turned around faster. So, I’m happiest to see that trend up there,” Whitley said of accounts payable.
She said that it will be a major challenge for HCHD to get all of the documentation of direct COVID-19 expenses and capital purchases from nursing homes to get them turned in by the Sept. 30, 2021 deadline. When HCHD complete its reporting, it will have completed documentation for six nursing homes (all in other counties). She recommended not starting entering information in the reporting portal until all 6 nursing facilities have all of the needed paperwork in to HCHD and district officials are 100 percent comfortable with the documentation on how the money is spent, because the burden will be on the hospital district in 3 years to show everything is in order.
Folwell said HCHD would like for BKD’s staff to do that for them. Whitley explained that while the accounting firm can be helpful, going through all of the documentation with them to make sure they are comfortable with it, but HCHD staff will be required to enter the information into the portal.
Whitley also recommended not waiting until Sept. 28, 2021 to begin entering the information into the online reporting portal as it is likely to get jammed up or bogged down due to the large volume on it at that time, and the district would be late getting it in if it went down. She recommended getting it in between Sept. 15 and Sept. 27. She said she wanted to be sure the HCHD Board knew they would be on the hook if the amount reported isn’t accurate, and would be required to pay back at a future date any amount identified as not meeting the requirements.
Angelia Harris, HCHD benefits coordinator, said the nursing homes have been asked to get all of their paperwork in by Aug. 31, 2021, and already had most of the nursing facilities paperwork in already.
