Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Goes to the State Fair
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service personnel will be on hand at the State Fair of Texas from Sept. 24 to Oct. 17 with teaching installations on food production systems, natural resource conservation, nutritious eating and youth education to improve Texans’ health. Our agency’s presence at the fair provides a great opportunity for outreach and to introduce Texans to the everyday solutions AgriLife Extension can provide.
If you are able to visit the fair, be sure to stop by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension exhibit. This will be AgriLife Extension’s fifth year exhibiting inside the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Go Texan pavilion at the State Fairgrounds. The Go Texan pavilion is designed to showcase Texas-made products and introduce people to the many ways that Texas agriculture is used by companies to produce food and beverages.
AgriLife Extension personnel, along with volunteers from the agency’s Texas Master Gardeners and Texas Master Naturalists, will be on hand to meet visitors. Fairgoers can stop in and ask questions or receive information on a wide range of topics including the agency’s Path to the Plate program, healthy recipes, tips on vegetable gardening, or how to be involved in 4-H programs. Videos will focus on topics ranging from healthy meal preparation and 4-H successes to the connections between agriculture, food and health.
AgriLife Extension works for the people of Texas, but many Texans are not aware of the breadth of the agency’s services. Did you know that Hopkins County has two Extension Agents? I serve as the Family & Community Health agent, focusing on nutrition, diabetes education, health & wellness, marriage education, and other topics. My co-worker, Mario Villarino serves as our Ag and Natural Resources agent.
People come from all over the world and visit the pavilion, so it provides a fun experience. Over 250,000 people usually come by the exhibit, so it’s a great opportunity for us to interact with people and let them know who we are and what we do.
Cooking Well with Diabetes
This 4-session series showcases recipes and cooking techniques that can be healthier for people with diabetes. The series will be held face-to-face at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Hopkins County Office, 1200 West Houston St., Sulphur Springs.
Dates are Mondays and Thursdays, October 4, 7, 11, and 14, 6 p.m. The cost is $25, payable at the first session. The fee covers materials, recipe sampling, door prizes, and great information on managing diabetes. Please call 903-885-3443 to reserve a spot. Limited to the first 10 people.
Closing Thought
Depend on yourself. Make you judgement trustworthy by trusting it.
– Grantland Rice
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
2021 John Chester Dutch-Oven Cook-off and Indian Summer Day is October 2 in Heritage Park
The John Chester Dutch Oven Cook-off will take place Saturday October 2, 2021 starting at 9 a.m in Heritage Park, 416 North Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs. The annual Cook-off will be part of the Park’s Indian Summer Day, lasting til 2pm. The event is hosted by the Hopkins County Historical Society.
Parking is free and general admission into the Park is $3.00. Enjoy strolling around and viewing pioneer and artisan crafts and skills, with many participants costumed in period clothing.
Dutch-Oven delicacies will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. Samples can be enjoyed for $5.00 per plate. Servers will place your samples in cups which you will carry on your plate. Enjoy all you want of the different kinds of main dishes, vegetables, breads and desserts that were prepared by early Americans, and are still popular today. Also enjoy the music and the ambiance of the step-back-in-time during Indian Summer Day and the Dutch-Oven cooking event. All proceeds go to upkeep and maintenance of beautiful Heritage Park and Hopkins County Historical Museum.
For more information contact Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752
Thirteen Men Arrested On Felony Warrants Over Past Week By Local Authorities
Thirteen men were arrested on felony warrants by local authorities from Sept. 13-21, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officers Dustin Green and Sgt. Brandon Mayes spotted Jacob Thomas Ramsey walking at 9:18 a.m. Sept. 19, on the wrong side of Carter Street. They contacted him and conducted a records check. Communications operators advised the 26-year-old Sulphur Springs man had an outstanding parole warrant. The officers took him into custody and transported him to jail for violation of parole, which he was on for a felony cattle, horse or exotic animal theft conviction.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Drew Fisher and Josh Davis located and took Jessie Wayne Petrea was taken into custody at a Helm Lane address at 11:25 p.m. Sept. 17, 2021, on a warrant for violation of bond or protective order, two or more times, accordign to arrest reports. The 28-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, in lieu of $100,000 bond on the third-degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police took Richard Leon “Ricky” Howell, 57, of Fort Worth into custody Sept. 17, 2021, on warrants for violation of probation on a possession of a Penalty Group 1 or 1B controlled substance charge and a bench warrant, according to jail reports.
Darrell Ray Richards who is also known by Derrell R Richards was arrested Sept. 17, 2021, for failurte to appear on a criminal mischief warrant and a bench warrant for a Nov. 19, 2019, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence charge, according to jail reports. The 56-year-old Mount Vernon man remained in Hopkins County jail on a $10,000 bond on the criminal mischief charge, according to jail reports.
Jacob Allen Woolverton Jr. turned himself in 9:55 a.m. Sept. 16, 2021, to serve a commitment on a prohibited conduct with an ancestor or descendant. HSO Deputy Joe Hooten escorted him into the county jail, where the 40-year-old Como man was held Monday on the charge, according to arrest and jail rpeorts.
HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Josh Davis, and Sgt. Tanner Steward took aaron Cole Bennett into custody at a Texas Street residence at 5:09 a.m. Sept. 15, 2021, on a warrat for insufficient bond on an aggravated assault charge. He remained in Hopkins County jail Sept. 20, 2021, in lieu of the $500,000 bond set on the charge, according to jail reports.
James Erik Weesner was taken into custody at 2:02 a.m. Sept. 16, 2021, by SSPD Officer Silas Whaley on Industrial Drive on a warrant for violation of parole, which he was on for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. He was in a stopped vehicle. A records check showed the warrant. He was jailed on the charge. The 21-year-old Tyler man was held in the county jail Sept. 20, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Joe Hooten traveled to Athens, where Jason Deshaun Norris was held on three Hopkins County warrants. Hooten took custody of Norris at 9 a.m. Sept. 14, 2021, and transported him from Henderson County jail to Hopkins County jail, where the 40-year-old Gun Barrel City man was booked on the outstanding tampering with evidence, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges. The offenses, Hooten noted in arrest reports, are alleged to have occurred on July 16, 2021.
Bond was set at $150,000 on the controlled substance charge, $30,000 on the tampering with evidence charge, and $50,000 on the evading arrest charge. Norris, who is also known by Spider, Sticks and Stix, remained in Hopkins County jail until Sept. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Drew Fisher and Jason Lavender responded at about 8:45 a.m. Sept. 14, 2021, to reports of a disturbance at Midway Gas Station. Upon arrival at the store, deputies spotted a silver four-door car, which matched the description of an individual involved in the disturbance.
As the deputies approached the Infiniti, they saw a man making furtive movements while sitting in the driver’s seat. He claimed to have concealed a fake pistol beside the driver’s seat.
Deputies removed him from the car and placed him into custody as a precaution for officer safety. Due to what Fisher described as the man’s erratic behavior, the deputies asked to search the car. When he refused, the a deputy retrieved his canine partner from his vehicle. The police canine during an open air search around the vehicle alerted to the odor of narcotics, Fisher and Lavender alleged in arrest reports.
A records check showed the man, identified in arrest reports as 33-year-old Christopher Francis Matthews, was wanted in Henderson County for violation probation on a controlled substance charge. A probable cause search of the car allegedly revealed suspected methamphetamine stuffed into the gap between the center console and the driver’s seat. The substance weighed 2.7 grams, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Matthews was transported to jail, where he was booked not only on the warrant but also on a new charge for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He remained in Hopkins County jail on the charges Sept. 21, 2021. Bond on the new charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
While at the location, a man in a Chevrolet Silverado arrived to transport one person said to have been involved in the disturbance from the location. Before dispatchers could run a records check to notify the deputies the man was wanted, he left the scene in the truck.
Deputies Fisher and Elijah Fite located him on State Highway 19 south at County Road 1182 and initiated a traffic stop. Tracy Alan “TJ” Monkhouse Jr. was taken into custody. He was booked for bond forfeiture on a July 12, 2017, possession of controlled substance warrant out of Lamar County. the 46-year-old Paris man remained in Hopkins County jail until Sept. 17, 2021. Bond on the charge was set at $20,000, according to arrest and jail reports.
SSPD Sgt. Josh Shufeldt conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Sonata at 8:54 p.m. Sept. 13, 2021, on Bill Bradford Road. A records check showed occupant Jimmy Lee Eastman Jr. to be wanted in Titus County. The 34-year-old New Boston man was take into custody for violation bond or protective order two or more times. His car was left parked at the location.
Eastman, who is noted in jail reports to also be known by Love, remained in Hopkins County jail until the next day on the felony charge. Bond was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Steve Huffman traveled to Marshall, where Maximiliano Deveon Gomez was being held on a Hopkins County warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for an Aug. 16, 2021, driving while intoxicated with a child younger than 15 years of age in the vehicle conviction. He was taken into custody at 9:18 a.m. Sept. 13, 2021, and transported to Hopkins County jail, according to arrest and jail reports.
The 53-year-old Winnsboro man was held in the county jail on the charge Sept. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
SSPD Sgt. Matt Glenn and Sgt. Joe Scott contacted 32-year-old Renaldo Deshaun Sykes-Moore of Dallas 6:47 p.m. Sept. 15, 2021, regarding a call for service on South Broadway Street. A records checks showed Sykes-Moore to be wanted in Collin County on two Lindale theft property valued at less than $2,500 with 2 or more previous convictions warrants and a Collin County theft of property valued at more than $2,500 but no more than $30,000 warrant. He was released from Hopkins county jail on Sept. 17, 2021. Bond was set at $20,000 each on the Lindale charges and $5,000 on the Collin County charge, according to arrest and 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.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
2021 New Landowner Program Series: Pond Management
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Ponds located across the state have different water chemistry, caused by factors such as soil type, water sources, and watershed characteristics. The water chemistry in a pond affects primary productivity which determines the number of fish to stock as well as the pond’s fish carrying capacity.
One characteristic that controls the ability of a pond to produce fish is alkalinity. Alkalinity is the measure of buffering capacity, and is commonly described as milligrams per liter or parts per million calcium carbonate (mg/L or ppm CaCO3). A total alkalinity of at least 20 ppm is required for good pond productivity. Ponds located within pine-forested watersheds are especially susceptible to low alkalinity.
In ponds with low alkalinity, pH can vary widely throughout the course of the day, causing unnecessary stress on fish populations. In this situation, it is often difficult to establish a phytoplankton bloom, which is the base of the pond’s food chain. If you plan to fertilize, you should have the alkalinity checked. If alkalinity is less than 20 ppm and you want to fertilize, agricultural lime can be added to increase alkalinity. Do not use hydrated or quick lime, as rapid pH changes could cause a fish kill.
Agricultural lime is often available in bulk quantities and can be delivered to your site. Common application rates range from one to four tons per surface acre. The lime should be applied as uniformly as possible over the surface of the pond to ensure coverage. Distributing the lime from a plywood platform on the front of a boat is a common application method.
Check with local authorities or review the information found in the accompanying references to decide if liming is something you need to consider.
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].
Final Public Hearings For Budget, Tax Rate, Master Fee Schedule To Be Held At 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting
Sulphur Springs residents will have one final opportunity Tuesday evening to voice any comments or concerns they may have regarding the proposed budget, reduced tax rate, service fees and schedules before the council considers making them officials.
Unlike the regular meeting which was packed to include of a playground for Pacific Park and material for the College Street road improvement projec, among others, the Sulphur Springs City Council will only be asked to consider 7 ordinances at the called special 7:30 p.m. meeting Sept. 21 at the City Municipal Building.
A public hearing will be conducted along withsecond reading of each ordinance, from 2783-2788 and No. 2790. If the couci approvs them, the ordinances will pass a 2021-22 budget; tax rate; master fee schedule for costs, fees and rates associated with permitting, utility and other city services; setting sewer, water and santiation rates; and authorizing updated service credits.
Master Fees, Utilities
After several preventations over the past year regarding instrastructure needs, including to water, sewer and streets, the council approved increases to all three fees city utility fees as well as a master fee schedule to better keep up with costs of inflation and put raise funds to address more infrastructure needs in the coming year.
The master fee schedule, which includes utility services, permitting and other services passed only on a 5-2 vote at the Sept. 3 regular City Council meeting. Both Mayor Johns Sellers and Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. voted against the ordinance and fee schedule as proposed, due largely to the motion to double the residential street maintenance fee and the deposit required for rental of the new HW Grays Community Building in Pacific Park. The street maintenance fee will increase to $10 per residential utility bill to fund twice as much on road improvements, which will mean getting more done to slow the deterioration process, and the Grays building deposit will increase to $200, to be returned upon the renters completion of the checklist returning the property to its pre-rental state.
City water bills, according to the rate proposed in Ordinance No. 2785, will include an $8.02 monthly demand charge plus a $4.05 usage fee for each 1,000 gallons of water. For meters 4-inches or larger the fee wil be $939.52 minimum for 0-230,000 gallons of water, then $3.78 per 1,000 gallon usage of waterin excess of 230,000 gallons of water.
Ordinance No. 2786 would increas the sewer use fee to $28.10 for gallons 0-4,000, then $4.07 per thousand gallons in excess of 4,000 gallons. For customers who contribute higher concentrations of waste than normal domestic wastewater woudl pay based on a forma based on the cheical oxygen demand, suspended solids and voume of water used.
Sanitation rates are scheduled to go up 5 percent, less than the 6 percent increase charged by the contractors. The rate per dwelling unit, multfamily residential unit and mobilehome park is $13.07. The monthly charge for commercial collection will be $26.15 per commercial unit. Business rates would be charge per contain per yard and per day. Temporary dumpsters under Ordinance No. 2787 would be charged a $102.84 delivery fee and charged fees per cubic yards for roll-offs and compactors.
Budget, Tax Rate
The City Council will be asked to approve a $35.3 million budget, with 14.5 percent of the revenue from ad valorem taxes. Expenditures are budgeted to match revenues, which will fund all debt requirements, operating city government, and capital improvements, according to Ordinance No. 2783 Appropriations for 2021-2022 as posted on the city’s website.
As proposed the City Council tax rate will be reduced from $0.44 per $100 property valuation to $0.42692 per $100 property valuation, with $0.36241 designated for city maintenance and operations and the remaining $0.06461 applied to pay the principal and interest on city debit.
While the tax rate is almost 1.5-cents lower, it’s still expected to bring in 12.96 percent more in tax revenues than the 2020-21 budget. That equates to $507,107 in additional tax dollars to be raised in fiscal year 2021-22, 11.3 percet of that amount ($52,715) is new property added to the tax roll. The rest will come from tax payers in the form of increased property values, assessed for tax roles by Hopkins County Appraisal District.
In other words, the taxable value on homesteads has increased on average by 9.29 percent, which means an “average homestead taxable value” of $105,229 in 2020, now has been appraissed at $115,012. That means the tax bill on that property would increased by $28 in FY 2021-22 to $491.01, according to the Notice of public hearing on tax increase posted by the City of Sulphur Springs.
The City Council approved on first reading during the regular Sept. 7 meeting both the budget and tax rate, with the budget adjusted to reflect an increase in the street maintenance fee on city utility bills. An increase in the deposit fee to rent the HW Grays Building in Pacific Park from $100 to $200 too received approval of the council as part of Ordinance No. 2790, setting perits, utilty fees and services. The rental fee would remain $50 for the Grays Building; the $200 deposit would be returned, provided the renter completes the checklist to restore the facility to the original condition it was in when the renter assumed responsiblity for the new city building, paid part with the voter-approved bond taken out for that project, a new Senior Citizens Center and additional repairs in Pacific Park.
Updated service credits
The Council too will be asked to authorize updated service credits. Essentially, this is the retirement plan for city employees, through Texas Municipal Retirement System. The city’s contribution rate is 7.84 percent without updated service credits and increases to a total rate of 8.17 percent with adopted updated service credits. The city funded portion that will decrease slightly from 95.3 percent to 94.8 percent for FY 2022. The updated service credits enhance each retirement account of current full time employees for inflationary factors above specific thresholds. The additional cost of USC are estimated at $30,209.97 for FY 2022.
Student Activity at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
GETTING INFORMATION
Students Owen Miller, Lucas Williams and Carson Voorheese of Sulphur Springs get the official information from PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley. 
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.
Lady Cats Volleyball in Longview For Fourth District Match On Gameday Tuesday
The Sept. 21 edition of Tuesday gameday will be something of a quiet one for Sulphur Springs sports teams.
Normally, Tuesdays in the fall bring Wildcats team tennis and Lady Cats volleyball, but team tennis is off today on a bye.
The tennis team, lead by Coach Tony Martinez has earned a much-needed bye on Sept. 21 since they have been heavily entrenched in district play since it began in late-August.
Last week Wildcats team tennis hosted Pine Tree in a do-or-die play-in game. Coach Martinez told his squad for weeks that Tuesday, Sept. 14’s match versus the Pirates would determine if his squad could potentially participate in post-season play.
Fortunately for Wildcats and Lady Cats tennis fans, Sulphur Springs was able to best the Pirates at the Wildcats tennis center last Tuesday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After their much-deserved bye today, Wildcats team tennis will be in Hallsville next Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Bobcats.
Moving over to volleyball, Coach Bailey Dorner’s team has been rocking and rolling to start district play.
After losing a tough five set classic versus Texas High a week ago, Sulphur Springs hosted Marshall last Friday.
The Lady Cats lost a nice lead in set one and went on to lose the first set 26-24.
Sets two and three were won by Sulphur Springs, 26-24 and 25-23 to give Coach Dorner’s team a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set showed this team’s character and tenacity as even though they trailed by nine, they came back to win set four on Friday, Sept. 17 26-24 and thus the match 3-1.
The win gave the Lady Cats volleyball team a 16-11 overall record (2-1 district). Sulphur Springs has won four of their last five matches, with their lone loss in that stretch being last Tuesday’s home classic versus Texas High.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her squad will be in Longview later today taking on the Pine Tree Pirates.
JV and freshman squads will get things underway at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity squads at 6 P.M.
The Lady Cats volleyball game will be broadcasted over the radio on to KSST 1230 AM.
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.
COVID Booster Shots Are Now Available
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 Street 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
Thank you for your patience
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, please expect “longer than usual” wait times in the Emergency Department. 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 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older). Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Effective immediately, boosters are available for the immunocompromised:
CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
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, you may contact Health Information Management. If you need medical records, please use one of the following options:
- Please call 903.439.4045 to speak to staff members who can send your records to care providers for you or to request your medical records. You will need to complete 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 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.
- Minor-aged visitors must be accompanied by an adult, be free of symptoms and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- 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:
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs Hours of Operation
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
Lee Street Jamboree: Fun for the Entire Family
Last Saturday September 18th, was the annual Lee Street Jamboree in downtown Greenville.
Families were all smiles as they grabbed some snacks to eat, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Food trucks had everything from kettle corn popcorn and Kona ice to nachos, hamburgers, cheese fries, and even wine popsicles for mom and dad!
Many of the unique vendors offered great deals that had people shopping until they dropped. Several vendors sold eclectic soaps and candles. There were cute holiday themed Kleenex box covers, wooden signs and crosses, as well as lots of other home décor. Hunt County Coffee company had different organic artisanal coffee roasts available for purchase. Apparel stands had hats, custom handmade jewelry, cute clothes and graphic tees! The Jamboree was the perfect place to pick up some gifts for friends and family!
Gellyball set up on Westly allowed families to compete in a safe and fun way. Gellyball is similar to paintball-without the pain or mess!
Kids could be found laughing with joy in the massive Kids Zone that featured a relay race, inflatable shark bounce house, face painting, and much more! Children flocked to the giant foam-filled wrecking ball. It was amusing to watch as they ran into the structure and would get bopped around as the ball that was suspended by a large strap would swing back and forth.
The Emerald City Band appealed to young and old alike with their phenomenal performance of fan favorites from the decades. The band performed classic songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as well as well as current songs we all know and love. People could be seen sitting back, enjoying the music and tapping their toes, while others were up dancing and singing along to the music.
The art show at the Texan Theatre offered a welcome, air conditioned reprieve from the heat. There were many inspiring talented artists eager to show and sell their work. Art ranged from paintings, custom wooden walking canes, artisan crafted jewelry, themed holiday wreaths, and even car freshies. There were so many different types of arts and crafts to enjoy!
There was also a forbidden gallery exhibit in the lobby of the Texan Theatre by Erica Painter. Erica is a local artist known for incorporating tattoo designs, natural elements, and taxidermy. She refers to her style as “vegan macabre”.
Overall the jamboree was fun for all and you want to make sure to mark your calendar for next year!
Woman Claims She Was Going To Pick Her Children Up From School After 5 p.m. When Arrested For DWI
A 31-year-old Dike woman claimed she was going to pick her children up from school – at 5:30 p.m. – when deputies arrested her for DWI. This was her second DUI arrest in less than a year, according to arrest and jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies received more than one complaint in regard to a reckless driver on FM 1537. One complainant told sheriff’s officials that a motorist in a gray vehicle was not driving in a single lane of traffic. The car turned onto State Highway 19 and headed south toward Sulphur Springs, where a deputy intercepted the Toyota Camry at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 2021, on Hillcrest Drive just before it becomes Church Street.
The woman driving was visibly shaking and admitted to being nervous when the deputy contacted her. Additional deputies arrived to assist. The woman was asked to step out of the car to talk with the deputies. When she complied, the sheriff’s officers reported smelling an alcohol odor emitting from her. She admitted to consuming an alocholic beverage earlier in the day, but said she was on her way to a Barbara Bush Primary on Hillcrest Drive to pick her two children up.
She tested 6 of 6 clues during horizontal gaze nystagmus testing when attempted field sobriety tests. She displayed four of eight clues on a walk and turn test and three of four clues on the one-legged stand test. Based on the test results and her admission of alcohol consumption earlier in the day, the woman was taken into custody for further investigation of driving while intoxicated. An open alcoholic beverage container was located inside the vehicle.
The car was towed from the location and the woman was taken to jail, where she tested 0.212 and 0.2, more than twice the legal limit on breath-alcohol tests. The 31-year-old Dike woman was booked into the county jail at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol over 0.15.
She remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, 2021, on the Class B misdemeanor DWI charge.
Monday was the second time in just under a year the woman has been jailed in Hopkins County on a DWI charge. She also spent the night Oct. 16, 2020, in jail after a deputy arrested her at 5:15 a.m. on FM 1537 following a crash in a black Camry. She was reported to be the sole occupant of the Toyota found in the ditch. Deputies believed the car had rolled over, causing the airbag to deploy.
The woman complained of chest pains and was transported to the hospital, where the deputy contacted her and administered horizontal gaze nystagmus testing. Standard field sobriety testing was not attempted due to her complaint of major chest pain. She refused the deputy’s request for a blood sample to measure blood-alcohol content, so he sought and obtained a warrant requiring a blood draw for analysis. The sample was taken and, after she was discharged from the hospital, the deputy transported her to jail, the officers alleged in arrest reports. She was booked on Oct. 16, 2020, on a DWI charge, then released the next day on a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor charge.
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.
