‘The Wall That Heals’ Major Community Event Set For November 4-7, 2021 With Fundraisers in September
During the KSST Good Morning Show on Thursday August 12, 2021, a first interview on-air about the “The Wall That Heals” visit to Sulphur Springs was discussed with Committee members Danny Davis and Dena Loyd. Mandy Kennedy, who is spearheading the event, was not able to attend. As a result of her efforts as a member of the Veterans Memorial Committee. Sulphur Springs was selected as the only Texas town to receive a visit by ‘The Wall That Heals’ replica and mobile education center. During it’s planned visit November 4-7 of this year, TWTH will spread the healing legacy of Washington’s Vietnam Veterans Wall and educate about the impact of the Vietnam War. It also honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam era, and bears the names of the 58,279 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during that conflict. Local committee members and residents of Hopkins County are thrilled and excited about the opportunity to host the display.
Davis, a military veteran, is Hopkins County Treasurer and Veterans Service Officer. He counts it a special privilege to have a share in the unique 2021 event planning, and to help prepare the community to welcome as many as 30,000 visitors to our city over the four days of the display. Two days of preparation will begin on November 2, and dozens of volunteers will be needed. Ways you can help will be detailed in the coming days and weeks. Saturday November 6 may be the busiest day, with a Parade and the Heritage Car Show adding to the excitement in the downtown area of Sulphur Springs. Persons who wish to visit the traveling exhibit can do so with 24 hour access on the Sulphur Springs High School campus.
Funding is required to host the Wall, and that was provided in a generous donation by local resident Carol Gunn Vernon, who underwrite the cost of $10,000 so that Hopkins County can welcome home America’s Vietnam veterans. Sponsoring partners are SSISD, City of Sulphur Springs, and the Hopkins County Veterans Memorial. Other funding needed will be covered by a Yellow Ribbon Campaign and by two fundraising concerts. Gold Star mom Dena Loyd is organizing a concert by Neal McCoy for September 10 in the SSHS Auditorium. Local band Jason Walden and The Alibis will open that show. Walden’s band will also perform a concert for a private fundraising event on September 25 at Cedar Canyon Event Center in a Dinner and Dancing Night for 150 guests. For individuals, groups, clubs, business or industry who wish to give a donation toward this worthy cause, these can be made anytime by going to the website www.thewallthatheals.org.
CHRISTUS President/CEO Speaks About Current COVID Spike, Ways to Stay Safe
CHRISTUS Hospital in Sulphur Springs is experiencing a rise in COVID cases similar to hospitals in the surrounding area. President/CEO Paul Harvey joined KSST in an interview on the Good Morning Show with Enola Gay on Tuesday August 10, 2021 to share information for local residents, stressing that the procedures the public utilized earlier this year are still good weapons against the spread of the strain of virus now being encountered. And for persons who previously did not get the COVID-19 vaccine, he stated, “our local hospital is making the three types of vaccines easily available at no cost and with no appointment. It is every person’s own choice, but choosing to become vaccinated is the surest way we know to protect oneself against infection from COVID-19. Vaccine supplies are plentiful. Our public clinic is held each Friday morning from 9am -11am in the front lobby of the hospital, and will be held until further notice.
Harvey also talked about the closure of the Commerce ER and Rockwall ER units of other area hospitals. The closures are due to staff being needed at the hospitals those satellite ER’s are associated with. “Persons in the Commerce area who are experiencing COVID symptoms and wish to be tested or treated are welcome to come to Sulphur Springs. As of Tuesday morning August 12, there were 13 COVID cases in our hospital. We have beds and staff to care for persons needing care. Additionally, our URGENT Care clinic on South Broadway can administer COVID testing anytime they are open. And starting Monday August 16, 2021, URGENT Care will be open from 8am til 6pm Monday through Saturday. The address is 1339 South Broadway, and the phone number of 0-3-951-1001. Also, URGENT Care can see and treat accident and ,many emergency walk-ins. It is a useful alternative to care for persons who may not need to be hospitalized. As you may know, wait times are longer right now at the hospital emergency room as more COVID cases come in. We just want people to know that CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs offers a safe, fully equipped environment, is accepting patients, and has beds and staff sufficient to care for them.”
Additionally, Harvey stated that the Sulphur Springs CHRISTUS location does not wish to reach a stage where we can’t do elective surgical procedures. We are still on schedule handling outpatient procedures. According to the Governor’s office, Texas hospitals will again be receiving assistance from State health nursing professionals, and so we expect to remain well-staffed as we go into a renewed season of COVID-19 cases.
Harvey also mentioned our Community Health Care center, called Carevide. Michelle Carter is CEO of the Sulphur Springs Carevide Center, which is located on the CHRISTUS campus at 106 Medical Circle. It specializes in offering family care, women’s health and pediatrics. Carevide is among other local community healthcare centers celebrating Community Health Care Center week, August 4-12.
115th COVID-19 Fatality Confirmed, 203 Active Cases Reported For Hopkins County
DSHS Resumes Filling Medical Staffing Requests
It’s no secret that COVID-19 cases have continued to rising once again in Texas – including Hopkins County. The 7-day state average of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 10,332, contributing to the 10,463 in Texas hospitals on Aug. 10. That is nearly 3,000 new confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in the last week, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.
COVID-19 patients occupied 10,463 of the 59,886 staffed inpatient beds and 64,005 total beds in Texas hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. That left only 7,772 hospital beds in the state of Texas, and only 368 ICU beds. Some hospitals in larger cities are so full due to COVID-19 cases and limited staff that some are having to divert incoming patients to other facilities because of lack of available beds and medical professionals to care for them.
Across Trauma Service Area F, in which Hopkins and most counties in northeastern Texas are located, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased from 11.8 percent on Aug. 4 to 15.86 percent of the total hospital capacity on Aug. 10, 2021. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs still has space that can be opened for COVID-19 patients. The hospital has averaged 14-15 patients daily this month., with as few as 13 in the COVID unit on Tuesday and as many as 16 last Wednesday, when 34 new cases were reported for Hopkins County (17 confirmed molecular and 17 new probable cases).
“Here at Christus Mother Frances -Sulphur Springs we are taking care of the COVID patients that are entering our doors. This morning we had 13 COVID patients here,” CMFH-SS CEO Paul Harvey said March 10.
Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce has been “temporarily closed” since Aug. 6, due to a “critical COVID surge.” Hunt Regional, in the announcement of the Commerce ER closing, noted that the Commerce staff is being redirected to Greenville due to the number of inpatients and urgent need for surge staffing.
HRHC’s goal is to reopen the Commerce facility at the end of August, provided the surge has lessened and staff is available to return
“We are experiencing a public health crisis and need your help. If you have not been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible. Wear a mask when indoors and avoid non-essential gatherings,” the HRHC notice stated.
Another ER hospital in Rockwall that is part of the Texas Health Resource System has closed as well for the same reasons as the Commerce ER, Harvey said.
Harvey, during an Aug. 10 interview with Enola Gay Mathews on KSST’s Morning Show, said that Commerce patients needing medical care are welcome at Sulphur Springs hospital as well as Hunt County facilities. While there has been an increase in COVID cases in Hopkins County as well as in the COVID unit at the hospital over the last month, Harvey notes, CMFH-SS staff are “holding our own” even with an increase in COVID-19 cases
“We are still able to take patients here if they come into the emergency room or if they walk in. We are still doing outpatient procedures that help our patients get better. We do not want to go to a stage that we’re not able to do elective procedures. That, in our opinion, deters people from getting their timely health care, regardless of whether COVID is going on or not. Our goal is to continue to provide a safe environment for our associates and the patients, especially if you have COVID. We’ve been doing this now for 15 months,” Harvey said. “I’m very proud of our team, our physicians, our clinicians in what we’re doing in taking care of our patients.”
Harvey said the other hospitals in the Northeast Texas region are open, but all do have an influx of COVID patients right now.
“One of the difficult things right now is for people needing high level care, there has been some delays, not just in CHRISTUS, but in all of our health systems because of the influx, making sure we have enough staff to take care of those patients and to ensure that there’s a bed when they do go to another facility that a patient can properly receive the care in a safe environment,” Harvey said.
The longer the number of COVID-19 patients continues to surge, the more medical surge staff will be needed. To assist the exhausted health care facilities where staff have been treating COVID patients in addition to their other patients since March 2020.
DSHS Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 11, 2021, informed cities, counties and health care facilities that the state will resume filling requests for medical surge staff that cannot be met locally. DSHS is working with staffing agencies that are recruiting more than 2,500 medical personnel to assist hospitals and other health care facilities reaching capacity due to the current increase in COVID-19 cases. The priority, DSHS reports, is to recruit staff from out-of-state, and DSHS has directed the agencies not to utilize staff from other Texas health care facilities.
Facilities are to continue working with their counties, cities and other partners to meet needs locally whenever possible. They may, however, submit a State of Texas Assistance Request if additional resources are required. Facilities and local governments are asked to be judicious with their requests because there is a limited supply of staff available, and all regions of the state need assistance.
DSHS has funds available to support immediate staffing costs. However, extended staff deployments may require cost-sharing by local governments or individual facilities.
Thus, health officials are urging those who have yet to be vaccinated do so as soon as possible. Many healthcare officials are reporting that more than 90 percent of hospital COVID-19 patients consist of the unvaccinated.
DSHS also reports a seven day average of 64 fatalities for Texas, which increases the total number of Texans who have died from COVID-19 to 52,667. DSHS on Aug. 11 announced another Hopkins County COVID-19 fatality, increasing the total number of Hopkins County residents whose deaths have been attributed on each’s death certificate since July of 2020 to be a direct result of coronavirus.
The latest Hopkins County COVID death, according to the DHS COVID-19 County Trends dashboard, occurred on Aug. 6, a day in which 11 new confirmed cases, three new probable cases and11 recoveries were reported. Prior to last Friday, 68 days had passed since the last COVID-19 fatality was reported.
At one point, COVID numbers in Hopkins County had dwindled to the point CHRISTUS was able to report on July 7 that there were no COVID-19 patients in CMFH-SS – the first time since the unit was opened in March of 2020. The cases had continued to grow, to the point that the hospital had not only dedicated a larger part of the ICU for COVID-19 patients, but had also opened a whole section on the second floor to accommodate the influx not only for Hopkins County but cases brought in from surrounding counties served by Hopkins County EMS that do not have hospital facilities. The highest COVID-19 patient count in the local COVID-19 unit was 32 in January 2021.
The combined total of Hopkins County COVID cases dropped to the pandemic low of 56 cases (32 confirmed and 24 probable COVID cases), for the entire month of April 2021, when a total of 56 Hopkins County residents were also reported to have recovered from the virus. Unfortunately, the new COVID-19 case count for Hopkins County has been slowly edging up since then, with 89 new cases (53 confirmed and 36 new probable cases) reported in May, 80 in May (63 confirmed and 27 probable) in June, and 133 in July 2021 (83 confirmed and 50 probable cases).
Not quite 2 weeks into August, Hopkins County has already exceeded the monthly total for July. As of Aug. 11, a total of 158 new COVID cases were reported in people with Hopkins County addresses. That’s 113 lab-confirmed molecular COVID cases, 45 additional probable cases and only 59 recoveries so far. That means there were 203 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County on Aug. 11, 2021,
The last time more than 200 active COVID-19 cases were reported for Hopkins County was in February. Hopkins County’s active case count climbed to 203 on Feb. 10, then peaked for the month at 220 on Feb. 15, a day in which only one probable case was recorded.
The 19 new molecular cases recorded Monday, 11 on Tuesday and 13 on Wednesday pushed the cumulative total since March 2020 for Hopkins County to 2,132. At total of 1,788 probable cases have also been recorded since the state started tracking the data last fall, including three new probable cases on Aug. 9, six on Aug. 10 and 13 on Aug. 11. That’s 3,920 total Hopkins County residents who have had COVID since March 2020, including 3,603 who had recovered as of Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 11, 2021. Of the 59 recoveries this month, 26 were reported this week — 23 were reported Monday, two Tuesday and one on Wednesday.
Harvey said CMFH-SS while the hospital has scaled back visitation again, restricting it due to the rise in COVID 19 in the community and hospital, the hospital has continued to take safety precautions the entire 15 months of the COVID pandemic, to enable patients to safely receive the medical care needed including regular appointments at the Sulphur Springs CHRISTUS facilities
“We just want to ensure our community and our service area that we will continue to provide that safe environment for that,” Harvey said. “That does require, since we’ve had a rise in COVID, that we are having to limit visitation like we did. But, for the most part, people have been very understanding. We are back to full masking in the hospital, but that is only for our associates’ protection and our patients.”
The hospital CEO said one trend CMFHSS is seeing in patients hospitalized with COVID is that they are younger than the patients hospitalized when COVID peaked last year, and most of the people being hospitalized are not vaccinated.
“It’s kind of interesting to see that — that the vaccine can make a difference,” Harvey said.
CHRISTUS MFH-SS currently and will continue indefinitely to offer a COVID vaccine clinic every Friday. Anyone age 12 and up who has not had a dose of any of the different COVID shots can visit the hospital lobby between 9 and 11 a.m. any Friday to get a COVID vaccine. The hospital currently has all three of the COVID-19 vaccines: the 2-dose Pfizer, 2-dose Moderna and 1-dose Johnson & Johnson. The patient must be 18 or older to receive the Moderna and J&J vaccines, and 12 or older for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
“Seeing a little rise in numbers wanting vaccine. That’s a good thing. It’s one way to help keep the COVID rise down, if people do get the vaccinations, but that is a personal choice,” Harvey said, noting that on Aug. 6, a total of 71 people received doses of COVID vaccine.
COVID vaccines are also available at Walgreens, CVS, Cody Drug, Brookshire’s and Walmart pharmacies in Sulphur Springs. Information on which COVID vaccine each provider has and how to the facility may be found online at https://www.vaccines.gov/ by clicking the blue Find COVID-19 Vaccines button.
Texas State Securities Board Warns About Growing Number Of Online Investment Schemes
Anyone Can be Anyone on the Internet: How to Guard Against Imposters
The Texas State Securities Board is warning investors about a growing number of online investment schemes in which bad actors impersonate registered, licensed firms. These impersonation schemes are growing more and more sophisticated as scammers more efficiently leverage technology to defraud the public. Investors need to be aware – and beware – of these schemes.
Earlier today, for example, Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles entered an emergency cease and desist order against Oscar Hill, accusing him of operating an impersonation scheme. According to the order, Hill registered an internet website for Prestige Assets Mgnt, LLC – an unlicensed dealer with a similar name to Prestige Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser. The phony website used a domain name substantially similar to the domain name for the real website operated by the registered firm – an unfortunately common attempt to trick the public into dealing with an imposter.
“These imposters not only threaten our Texas investors but also create reputational harm for our registered community,” said Commissioner Iles. “Investors need to be ever-vigilant when considering potential investments through electronic devices.”
The phony website appeared legitimate, according to the order. It even appropriated identifying regulatory information – the Central Registration Depository Number or CRD Number – for the real Prestige Asset Management, LLC, and a map to its office.
“The internet provides a wealth of tools to scammers,” said Enforcement Director Joe Rotunda. “The scammers are taking advantage of these tools. They’re using every trick in the book to appear legitimate – even masquerading as regulated firms and registered dealers.”
The tactics typically vary from case to case and scheme to scheme. For example, in certain instances, scammers may impersonate a popular financial professional or issuer. Commissioner Iles highlighted this issue last month when he filed an emergency cease and desist order against Keye Midas Wealth Management Worldwide. This action accused a party of perpetrating a bait-and-switch scheme by pretending to be affiliated with ARK Invest and the ARK Innovation ETF. Shares issued by ARK Innovation ETF are listed on the NASDAQ and recently generated widespread retail interest.
Commissioner Iles has brought other cases, such as an action against Raymond Hill and Mark Diaz for promoting an advance fee scheme by impersonating a federally-registered investment adviser – using a fake website and social media, forged documents, and purported affiliations with the Internal Revenue Service. In another recent case, Commissioner Iles accused Amage Trades and an affiliate of adopting aliases substantially similar to the names of registered parties and publishing online photographs that purported to depict registered parties. This order alleged the parties even registered an internet domain name that was strikingly similar to the internet domain name of a registered party – differing by only one of 24 characters.
The Texas State Securities Board is recommending investors consider the following information when dealing with purportedly registered parties through online platforms:
- Anyone can be anyone on the internet, and investors should remember scammers are using fake social media accounts to obscure their identities. Texans should take steps to identify phony accounts by looking closely at content, analyzing dates of inception and considering the quality of engagement. The Better Business Bureau has released additional tips for spotting these fake accounts.
- Scammers are attempting to trick investors by registering domain names for fraudulent websites that are very similar to domain names for real websites. Investors should always pay careful attention to domain names for internet websites.
- Texans should independently research the registration of investment firms. They should not use hyperlinks provided by the parties and instead directly contact the Texas State Securities Board or search FINRA’s brokercheck platform.
- Registered parties are required to truthfully disclose all material facts, and they must disclose the risks associated with each product. On the other hand, bad actors will often minimize or conceal risks, and instead use hyperbole to tout profits and payouts. Investors should pay attention to these details, as they can provide clues about the potential illegitimacy of a scam.
- Bad actors may be impersonating licensed parties by using phony websites that place viruses or malicious software on victim’s computers. Investors should continue to embrace cybersecurity.
Please contact our enforcement program if you believe you have been the victim of an impersonation scheme or any other fraudulent securities scheme. We are available by telephone at 512-305-8392 or email at [email protected].
Hopkins County Back To School Activities
If you think the school year is coming way too fast, just imagine how Como-Pickton students and teachers felt Wednesday when classes started for the 2021-2022 school year. Cumby and Miller Grove will begin classes Aug. 12, with the students in the remainder of Hopkins County and Yantis schools slated to return to class next week.
Most class and supply lists, at least for elementary students, have been posted on the school district websites and social media accounts. Most districts’ most up-to-date return to school plans can be accessed on the district websites as well – some even have them posted on the school social media accounts as well.
Most schools also will be offering free breakfast and lunch meals, thanks to USDA. Free meals will continue to be offered for students as long as USDA continues to offer the program. However, all parents will still need to complete and return to school a Free and Reduced lunch application; that way should the program end during this school year, children who qualify for free or reduced lunches based on state and federal income guidelines will automatically receive the free or reduced price meals. Completing the ensures the school remains eligible for certain federal grants and funds that benefit the school. Students who bring lunch from home may purchase a milk. The free meals do not include a la carte items if they are available at the child’s school. Contact the child’s school regarding the free and reduce lunch applications.
SBISD Meet The Teacher Date Change 
Saltillo ISD Team App
Saltillo ISD will host Meet the Teacher from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 12. Classes will resume on Monday, Aug. 16. Families can go online
To help those who are still getting ready for the new school year, four area districts have scheduled Meet the Teacher events. Families can go online and register for the Saltillo Lions team app to keep up with their Lions.
Sulphur Bluff ISD’s annual Meet the Teacher and Hot Dog Supper has been postponed. Originally scheduled to be held Thursday, August 12, Meet the Teacher has been pushed back until from Monday, SBISD officials reported Wednesday afternoon. The event is still planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 16, 2021,
The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, Aug. 18. To view the districts’ return to School Plan for the 2021-2022 school year, click here.
North Hopkins ISD will hold Meet the Teacher for all district students from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday August 16. Students can drop off school supplies. The elementary invites those attending to enjoy a hot dogs and chips sponsored by Alliance Bank. Popcorn, cotton candy and Kona Ice will also be available. House T-shirts will be available for purchase and order.
This year, North Hopkins Elementary will also be posting envelopes numbered 1-100 on the board. Parents, family and community members can select the number of their choice to contribute that much money to help the NHE Literacy Project. See the envelop board during Meet the Teacher to find out more about the Literacy Project Fundraiser.
The first day of classes for NHISD will be Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021.
Yantis ISD 
Yantis ISD is planning for an Outdoor Parent-Teacher Meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, for students from prekindergarten through 12th grade and their parents. Students may drop off supplies, pick up schedules and complete any needed paperwork during that time. Class lists for prekindergarten through fifth grade have been posted on bus windows in front of the elementary campus. If your enrolled student has been left off, email [email protected].
ports physicals, required for all incoming 7th, 9th and 11th grade student athletes, will be offered from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, in the Yantis High School Gym for $15 cash. Check with the students coaches to find out about getting on the YISD remind app.
Classes will begin on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, for YISD students.
Sulphur Springs ISD Back-To-School Activities Slated Over The Next Week
Although school will not officially start until Wednesday, Aug. 18, days have been designated for Sulphur Springs ISD back-to-school activities over the next week to help ease students and families into the 2021-2022 school years, including Meet the Teacher, School Supply Drive Thrus, Squad Offs, an alumni basketball tourney and Device Pick Up. Elementary officials too have announced plans for an After School Program to begin the first full week of school.
Supply Drive Thru, Meet The Teacher Events
“It’s so exciting for students to get to meet their teachers in person,” SSISD Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk said earlier this week. “Campuses are excited about having kids ad students in the building this year.”
Sulphur Springs High School Counseling Department coordinated a 9th grade parent orientation last week.
“We had almost 500 parents and students in attendance out of a class of about 300 students,” Monk reported. “It was standing room-only to hear from administrators, directors, counselors, CIS staff, Student Council, and the Class of 2025 Sponsor.”
The remainder of SSHS students and parents will be able to attend a Meet-the-Teacher Tuesday afternoon , Aug. 17, Students can pick up schedules if they don’t already have them and walk the building, learning where classes will be and the path for their daily schedule.
Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center will have a traditional Meet-the-Teacher day. They will be able to drop off supplies, meet the students’ teachers, walk the building to help these youngest of students “have a truly good first day of school.”
Sulphur Springs Elementary and four primary campuses will be holding School Supply Drive-Thru events at their campuses from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, to allow parents to drive their children through the line to see their new teachers and drop off school supplies. A reading academy is being held to provided ELAR teachers with added strategy with which they can assist their students, so those campuses are not expected to be quite ready to welcome students and their families Thursday.
However, SSES does plan to hold a parent orientation after school starts to give parents a chance to be on campus with their students. The Back to School Bash/ Parent Orientation is planned for Monday, Aug. 23, while the four primary campuses — Bowie, Barbara Bush, Rowena Johnson and Travis — will hold their Back-2-School Bash/Parent Orientation Tuesday, Aug. 24. Families are invited to accompany their student to their assigned the campus on the designated day. More details will be provided to these families, including times, as the B2SB and parent orientations nears.
At Travis Primary, the June 12 Ready to Rock back to school drive through will take place in the Main Street horseshoe entrance for kindergarteners and on Garrison Street for first through third graders. Parents should watch for grade level signs on Garrison Street.
At Johnson Primary (former Lamar Primary), kindergarten and first graders will drive through on California Street on Aug. 12. Second and third graders will drive through on Milligan Street. Nurse Becky Hicks will be available on California Street should families have any medical questions or related discussion.
Sulphur Springs Middle School will host Welcome the SSMS Wildcats from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12. Students in grades 6-8 may pick up their schedules and meet their teachers during that time.
Device Pick Up
Freshmen were afforded the opportunity Aug. 3 to pick up their electronic devices (laptops) before or after orientation.
Tonight, Aug. 11, any SSHS 10-12th grader or 9th grader who was unable to obtain their device last week will be able to pick up their devices at school from 6 to 8 p.m.
From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m or noon to 4 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Aug. 12-13, and Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 16-17, have also been designated for all SSHS students to visit the high school to receive their device.
Band Squad-Off
The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Band Parent Performance and Squad-Off contest will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug 12, at Gerald Prim Stadium. This annual event will give students a chance to perform for an audience the music they’ve been working on for about a month.
The brass and wood wind section began reporting from 8 a.m. to noon July 12-14 in the stadium. Drumline camp was conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12-16 in the high school band hall, while color guard camp was held in the middle school gym from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 12-16. The following week, the front ensemble reported for camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 19-24, in the high school band hall.
All SSHS band students began reporting fulltime Monday-Friday, starting July 27, and continuing until school begins for summer band practice.
Parents and family members are invited to the stadium Thursday evening for the annual battle between the different squads.
Alumni Basketball Tourney
Also slated to be conducted Aug. 14, will be the 1st Annual Alumni Basketball Tournament. Hosted by the Sulphur Springs Wildcat Boys Basketball, the cost to enter Saturday’s contest is $80 per 5-person team. To register, call 318-220-6611. All proceeds from the tourney will go to provide school supplies for kids in need of a little help obtaining them.
After School Program
The SSISD “After School” program will be offered for SSISD students in kindergarten through fifth grade beginning Monday, August 23, from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m.
The program will follow the SSISD school calendar and will be open for business on regular school days. Expect program closures on designated holidays, early release and staff preparation days. Students will ride the shuttle bus from their home campus each afternoon to Barbara Bush Primary, where they will be greeted by After School Program staff. All program staff are SSISD employees who have been background-checked and fingerprinted.
The “After School” program agenda includes an afternoon snack, homework help and an opportunity to play after a busy school day. Program Coordinator Amanda Walker can be reached for questions via cell phone at 425-891-7002 or by email at [email protected].
Parents will be charged a $50 fee per child to register, $47.14 plus a $2.86 service fee to register online. Billing questions should be directed to Patty Garcia at 903-885-2153, ext. 1107, or [email protected] As o
To register students, click this link.
Residents Reminded To Secure Valuables, Lock Doors To Reduce Risk Of Vehicle Burglaries
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson Wednesday, after being made aware of a series of overnight vehicle burglaries in cities in other area counties, reminds local residents to take steps to secure valuables and lock doors to reduce the risk of becoming the victim of vehicle burglaries.
According to area reports, both Mount Pleasant and Mount Vernon officials have reported multiple vehicle burglaries this week – and most involved unlocked vehicles.
In fact, Mount Pleasant Police Department Wednesday reported more than 41 vehicle burglaries occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday. Officials were still in the process of investigating the large string of burglaries at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11, 2021.
“Out of these vehicles, ALL were left unlocked! The burglars were able to freely go car to car and take cash, guns, and other items of value,” MPPD posted on the department social media page.
Franklin County Law Enforcement also Tuesday reported that Mount Vernon Police Department responded Aug. 10 to car burglaries in the area of Meadow Park Drive and Highland Oaks Street. FCLE too reported that an initial investigation into the vehicle burglaries revealed “multiple unlocked vehicles had been gone,” and urged people not to leave anything valuable in their vehicles, especially weapons.
Ricketson said with those area cities being hit by vehicle burglars, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County could be next. Thus, he urges people to be sure to lock their vehicles when exiting the autos. He too recommends taking all valuables and keys with them.
“This type of crime is easy to prevent. People just need to make it part of their nightly routine to lock their vehicles and not leave valuables,” Ricketson said. “And, as always if they observe something suspicious or that doesn’t seem quite right, especially at night, we encourage them to call us right away. That call could be the tip that helps us catch and stop someone in the act of committing a crime.”
Dinner Bell Today
Dinner Bell is serving a special meal today. Volunteers from all walks of life diligently cook and assemble each meal with care. Special thanks to Alliance Bank as the Community Partner for this week’s meal. Their continued support is greatly appreciated.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
MENU
Herb Crusted Pork Loin
Wild Rice and Long Grain Rice with Orange Zest and Craisins
Yellow Squash Casserole
Garden Salad
Yeast Rolls
Cherry Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cake
BE CAREFUL! KEEP DISTANCES! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! GET INOCULATED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!
Chamber Connection – August 11
Deadline For Adult Leadership Class is Aug. 13; Applicants Still Needed For Class To Make
By Butch Burney
Adult Leadership
The deadline is fast approaching for the Adult Leadership program, and we are still in need of applicants for the class to make! We are accepting on our website, HopkinsChamber.org, or I can email you the documents if you contact me at [email protected] or by calling 903-885-6515.
Adult Leadership takes you through all of the services of the city and county in an in-depth program that will enrich your life, both occupationally and individually.
The class needs 20-25 members, and the deadline is Aug. 13
High School Leadership
The Hopkins County High School Leadership class will have all seven schools participating this year with 39 seniors involved in the program. If you want to sponsor one of these deserving students, this is the last week to do so and get your logo on the back of their T-shirts. If you’re interested in sponsoring, call the Chamber of 903-885-6515.
Photography Contest
It’s time for the 6th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than January 1, 2019, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 2 to August 31. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website.
Stew Fest Market Vendor Call
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515 email us at [email protected]
Stew Contest Drink Sales
Every year, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Contest. If you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regard to rules and expectations. The deadline is Aug. 31. Once we have all our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization. Please call if you have any questions.
Lunch and Learn
State Sen. Bob Hall and State Rep. Bryan Slaton will be in town for a Lunch and Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. Registration forms are on our website, so sign up to learn how laws passed (and not passed) by the Texas Legislature will affect your business. Lunch will be provided at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Tickets are $15 for Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Thanks for Atmos Energy and Oncor for sponsoring this important luncheon.
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Aug. 11, Bright Star Floors. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cuttings
The Plant Niche, 222 Tomlinson St., hosted a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 4. Go by the new business to see all the greenery they have to offer.
- Nunez Roofing will host a ribbon cutting at 1121 Loop 301 at noon Wednesday, Aug. 11. Come out and join us for that.
- Outlaw Milling and Woodworking will have a ribbon cutting at the Chamber office at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Come out and support this unique business.
- Natalie’s Food mart will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at 1321 South Broadway St. Stop by to welcome this business to the Chamber.
SSISD Trustees Approve 25 Personnel Changes, Employee Compensation Plans
Pay Scales Raised For Certain Hourly Workers, Paraprofessionals
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees approved 25 personnel changes as well as employee compensation plans that increases pay scales for certain hourly workers and paraprofessionals.
Personnel Changes
SSISD trustees approved four resignations, 13 new hires and eight inter-district personnel changes, which aside from a few paraprofessional and one office spot in the special education department pretty much firms up the district staff for the year.
Christie McCullough resigned as dance teacher and drill team instructor at Sulphur Springs High School. Meredith Dial is moving from a fourth grade classroom at Sulphur Springs Elementary to the high school to teach dance and serve as drill team instructor. Alisa Kulak then was hired as a fourth grade math and science teacher at SSES. Elias Garcia has been employed as a bilingual aide at SSES.
Ambie Tolleson resigned as Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center Head Start 4 aide. Douglass prekindergarten aide Leslie McDowell, Barbara Bush Primary special education aide Amber Harris and Rowena Johnson Primary (former Lamar Primary campus) Title 1 aide Lila Sears will all be stepping up as teachers at Douglass ECLC this year. Harris and McDowell will teach Head Start, while Sears teaches prekindergarten. Carrington Chancellor was hired as a prekindergarten aide at Douglass ECLC.
Kami Satterfield and Corban Jenkins resigned as special education aides at SSHS. Eric Buck in turn will move from Bowie Primary, where he was a Title 1 aide, to be a special education aide at SSHS. Kayla Miller will be moving from Douglass, where she’s been a Head Start aide, to become a Title 1 aide at Bowie Primary. Finally, rounding out the list of SSISD staff transferring to Douglass following Monday evening’s personnel changes is Tracy Flanery, who is trading Connections classroom at SSHS for an early childhood special education class at Douglass.
Patti Laeding will be returning to the classroom part time to teach English at SSHS. Brandy Griffin too was hired as a SSHS English teacher. Amanda Cochran has joined the SSHS staff as special education aides.
Hired as special education aides at Barbara Bush Primary were Dejarnae Nash and Brandy Rhudy, and at Sulphur Springs Middle School were Luciano Gallo and Kerry Roy.
Rounding out the list of new hires were Harley Kerby, Jady Martin and Logan Scott, as Title 1 aides at Rowena Johnson Primary.
Personnel decisions were voted on by the school board after an executive session Monday night, Aug. 9, 2021.
Rowena Johnson Elementary
Superintendent Michael Lamb, after the meeting reported that the sign officially renaming Lamar Primary in honor of the late Rowena Johnson, who dedicated 50 years toward the education of SSISD students before retiring, has been ordered but has been delayed. The new Rowena Johnson Primary sign is tentatively scheduled to arrive on the first day of classes. District administrators still hope to hold a dedication service to unveil the new sign.
Employee Compensation Plans
SSISD trustees also approved the 11 pages of pay scales for district employees as recommended by administrators. While some appear the same, there are some differences in others. The district, like many across the state, have struggled to hire and retain employees for certain staff, such as child nutrition workers, bus drivers, substitutes and certain paraprofessionals. Administrators recommended increases to those pay scales to make the pay more competitive with other districts in the area or of comparable size.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams noted one of the more obvious changes can be found in the hourly worker compensation plan. The starting rate for child nutrition workers increased from a minimum starting pay of $9 per hour to $10.50 with a maximum rate of $16 for child nutrition workers on Pay Grade 1. Rates for child nutrition managers vary by the number of students served at their campus or facility. The rate for child nutrition managers on campuses with 400 or less students ranges from $13-19, with 400-800 students would be $14-20, for 800 or more students would be $15-21 hourly pay.
Williams reported the minimum starting pay for custodial, maintenance, grounds, bus monitors are comparable with all. Custodians too start at $10.50 an hour, bus monitors at pay grade 2 at $11 an hour, maintenance (grounds) in pay grade 3 at $12 an hour and pay grade 4 at $13 starting (the same as child nutrition managers on campuses with 400 students or less).
Another change noted by Williams was in compensation scales for paraprofessionals. Looking at the scale listed in blue and gold, with two different pay scales.
“The pay scale 1 is what used to be Pay scale 2. That’s where a lot of paraprofessionals are. The old Pay Grade 1 was for a subset of paraprofessionals at Douglass. We found that was an antiquated practice with what they were doing every day and were being paid less because the kids were smaller,” Williams said. “So we moved the old Pay Scale 2 to Pay Scale 1.”
Williams noted that the gold pay scale on the right is 5 percent greater than Pay Grade 1. This is designated for paraprofessionals who work in the classroom environments where they potentially face physical peril. The overall cost to the district to change the paraprofessional pay scale is $40,000.
Another change not reflected in the pay scale presented Monday night to the SSISD trustees is an increase in substitute pay.
“Not only this year, but last year with COVID, we’re competing with districts in the county for substitutes. Different schools do it different ways. We are going propose increasing short term substitutes from $70 a day to $80 and long term subs from $80 to $90. That brings us up to par with other districts around us,” Williams said.
