2021 Veterans Day Oberservance Downtown
Hopkins County Marine Corps League along with the Military Coaltion and veterans took part in a Veterans Day service Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, on the downtown plaza.
History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at 11 a.m., the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926. The Senate called on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling on the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be celebrated and known as “Armistice Day,” a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.
In 1954, after American forces fought in World War II and in Korea, veterans service organizations urged congrest to amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” ith the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. On October 8, 1854, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee to coordinate national planning for the observance. The proclamation also called for heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive Branch of the Government to assist the National Committee.
The Uniform Holiday Bill signed on June 28, 1968, to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees provided four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971, and disapproval from many.
On September 20, 1975, supported by an overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 returning the annual Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on Nov. 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls, preserving not only the historical significance of the date and focusing attention on the purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration honoring America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Sulphur Springs Observance
The Nov. 11, 2021, Veterans Day observance in downtown Sulphur Springs began with an invocation. County Judge Robert Newsom offered a prayer for those who serve America, and gratitude for the blessings enjoyed in the city, county and across the country.
HCMCL Judge Advocate Bob Kerr welcomed all to the observance and introduced Capt. E. Ridley Briggs, who recounted a soldier killed in service, and described the impact of seeing a flag folded into a precise triangle and presented to his mother, who kept it in a prominent place in her home. Briggs said while he can’t say exactly what the soldier’s thoughts were regarding that flag, OId Glory is special to him.
He takes the Pledge of Allegiance to the USA flag very seriously. He explained, breaking down each part, what the Pledge of Allegiance means to him him. It’s is a sacred vow taken, a promise to love and legal duty to serve the flag and all she represents. He said he loves the flag, which stands for freedom around the world and appreciation for those who died to keep her flying in wars around the world and those united with a common goal to serve, fight and defend her and this nation to the death. As a republic power flows from the people to the individuals elected to serve, not from the elected to the people. As a nation, we stand united together for liberty and justice for all people.
Briggs then lead the veterans and community members gathered around the flag in the town square in the Pledge of Allegiance to the USA flag.
Hopkins County Military Coalition performed a 3-round volley in honor of deceased veterans. The US and service flags were lowered and Taps played as well.
Melissa Harris and Sarge were introduced as honorary members of HCMCL. They attend occassions such as the Veterans Day service held in memory of those lost while serving, as appropriate. The riderless horse contains a pair of boots turned backwards, symbolizing those lost while serving. The boots placed backward in Sarge’s stirrups represent one last look at family and troops a service member lost in battle is leaving behind.
Harris said she hopes that when someone sees Sarge with empty saddle and backward boots they’ll remember someone’s loved one is never coming home from battle.
Kerr closed the service by reading the 2021 Presidential Proclamation declaring November as National Veterans and Military Families Month.
Wildcats Basketball in Greenville Thursday For Final Tune-Up Before Regular Season
Coach Brandon Shaver’s Wildcats basketball team will be out in Greenville tonight on this Thursday game day.
The men’s basketball team’s Thursday contest with the Lions is the second and final scrimmage before the winter 2021-22 regular season begins.
Justin Haire on Wednesday, Nov. 10 signed his letter of intent in the SSHS Main Gym to play college basketball at Dallas Baptist University.
He was joined by a good number of his fellow student body, as well as his family, team, and coaching staffs; past and present.
The regular season begins for DBU signee Justin Haire and Sulphur Springs on Saturday when they travel to Tyler to take on the Raiders.
Coach Shaver and his Wildcats will be all too ready for their road-opener when they take on a tough 6A team in the Tyler Legacy Raiders at 3 P.M.
Freshmen and junior varsity will precede the varsity contest at 1 P.M. and 1:30 P.M., respectively.
But before the men’s basketball team can shift their focus to their regular-season opener they must first get through the Greenville Lions today.
JV will get the action going tonight in Greenville at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity at 6:15 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Receives National Distinction
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs received an “A”grade in the Fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has also achieved “Straight As” in the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, the nation’s most prestigious honor for patient safety. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care.
“I know I speak for everyone at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs when I say just how proud we are to receive yet another ‘A’ rating in patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, this time for the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade,” said Paul Harvey, President/CEO, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. “It means so much to everyone here working hard, but it means even more to the patients we treat. This is the fifth consecutive ‘A’ rating this team has earned, which is a testament to their continued dedication to excellence and to the safety of every patient who depends on us for their care!”
“An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.”
Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an “A” grade when Leapfrog updated grades for fall 2021. To see CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care.
The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade,
Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
About CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System
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 ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility; and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, headquartered in Tyler, Texas, is the region’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers representing 45 specialties, in 113 locations serving Northeast Texas and Louisiana. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 457 – 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 ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Justin Haire Signs Letter of Intent with Dallas Baptist University Patriots
Wildcats senior basketball players Justin Haire, a four-year member of the Wildcats varsity basketball team, signed a letter of intent Wednesday, Nov. 10 to play basketball at the next level at Dallas Baptist University.
Haire is the son of Jason and Traci Haire.
Haire said he met the coaching staff of the Patriots a few years ago when DBU recruited former Wildcat and current sophomore at the university Cameron Kahn. The senior said he had a chance to talk with him in an unofficial visit late this summer. He was invited for a visit, was given a campus tour, got a chance to meet the team and even played a few hoops with them.
The senior said it just felt like a good fit for him. He said the basketball coach seemed amazed at Haire’s driving ability and working the low-post game.
Haire said it is one of the strengths of his game.
He said DBU is in a pretty part of the metroplex. The campus is about an hour and a half drive from Sulphur Springs.
The senior said DBU has a good basketball program.
Haire said they can run through the bigs or through the guards. He said Dallas Baptist is all about good, team basketball. He said it reminded him of Sulphur Springs.
The senior said getting a university basketball offer is a dream come true. Haire plans to get a degree in business.
Haire’s Wildcats Coach Brandon Shaver said he has seen incredible growth in the short time has worked with the senior, adding he has put in the work and is an exemplary student on and off the court.
The men’s basketball coach said Haire did a good solid job reaching his decision.
Coach Shaver said Haire was a great kid and a great student.
Former men’s basketball coach Clark Cipoletta made the trip back out to Sulphur Springs to see his former player sign his letter of intent and echoed a lot of the statements Coach Shaver made; it was a blessing to coach him and he is exactly what it means to be an athlete and student for Sulphur Springs.
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.
2 Critical Care Paramedics, Flight Medics Receive Lifesaver Award From Parkland
Two critical care paramedics received an award Wednesday from Parkland Health and Hospital system for their work, which not only saved a life but also saved the patient’s limb as well.
Dudley Wilcoxson, trauma EMS liaison for Parkland Health & Hospital System, Nov. 10, presented Hopkins County EMS critical care paramedics Corey Coker and Chris Johnson with “EMS Lifesaver Recogntion” for their work Aug. 29, 2021, in Hopkins County. The CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis Health System Flight for Life #2 team of RN Kevin Hanley and RN Paul Putnam, as well as the pilot out of Mount Pleasant also were presented with the recognition Wednesday morning.
“Today’s about recognizing EMS. I think we’re in the service that doesn’t get thanked enought,” said Wilcoxson, who had already made the trip to Mount Pleasant to recognize the flight medics for their role in the patient care. “Your EMS crews are being recognized by Parkland’s Rees-Jones Trauma Center for outstanding lifesaving trauma care of a patient transported to Parkland. Due to quick EMS intervention on a deteriorating patient, a bad outcome was prevented. This patient had a great outcome and was discharged home in stable condition,” Wilcoxson said.
The Parkland liaison said not only are the paramedics capable in the field, but their use of a special tourniquet save the person’s limb.
“Te intervention they did with the tourniquet saved this person’s limb. That’s beyond – really extraordinary service. I just wanted to come out and recognize you for that,” Wilcoxson said.
Coker and Johnson also reportedly notified the incoming crew they would be turning over patient care to that the person would require blood, which the flight medics in turn were able to give on the flight to Parkland. Because of the “exceptional job” performed in the field and flight paramedics, the outcome of the patient changed for the better.
“I think the community needs to know what type of service they have here. They should be really thankful they have such good service here. I’ve always heard good things about Hopkins County. When I was a different EMS provider, I’ve always heard great things. Talking to the flight crew this morning, they said the crew did an exceptional job. It was about their first intervention,” Wilcoxson said.
Hopkins County EMS paramedics during the presentation offered additional credit to a local police officer, who attempted to use a belt to help slow the blood flow until they arrived.
SSISD Education Foundation To Be Submitted As Potential Charity For Hopkins County Jury Duty Reimbursement Donations
Hopkins Energy LLC Agreement Amended By 1 Year, Stampede Solar Road Maintenance Agreement Granted
Sulphur Springs ISD Education Foundation was approved to be submitted to the list of charities to which Hopkins County jurors may donate their daily reimbursement for jury service. Hopkins County Commissioners Court also amended and restated a 381 agreement with Hopkins Energy LLC, a road maintenance agreement with Stampeed Solar Project LLC and financing for an equipment purchase.
Jury Duty Charity
SSISD Education Foundation President Gena Prickette asked the Commissioners Court during their regular meeting this week to consider adding the Education Foundation to the list of possible charitities that jurors may donate their fee to.
The SSISD Education Foundation, she noted, is a nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of supporting the school district. The foundation does that in three ways: through classroom grants teachers can apply to the foundation to request something for their classroom that is outside their regular budget; scholarships to graduating seniors; and to help support paraprofessionals in the district who would like to go back to school to become certified teachers in SSISD by supplementing their tuition on a semester basis.
When asked by Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker how the program is funded, Prickette said funding comes from private donations which, she pointed out, can be made through the program website, ssisdeducationfoundation.com (which is also accessible from the main page on the school district website, ssisd.net). Donations may be made in honor, memory or support of someone, and can even be a recurring monthly gift. The foundation’s big fundraiser is an annual golf tournament.
The Commissioners Court approved the request that the SSISD be considered for addition to the list of charitable organizations Hopkins County jurors can select to donate the funding they receive for jury duty to.
County Judge Robert Newsom said the court would talk with 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt, 62nd Judicial District Judge Will Biard and County Court At Law Judge Clay Harrison about getting SSISD Education Foundation on the approved charity list of charities that jury service reimbursement can be donated directly to.
Election Canvassing
Hopkins County Commissioners Court was slated to canvass the county votes from the Nov. 2, 2021 Texas Constituational Amendment Election at the regular meeting Monday, Nov. 8, but postponed doing so until next week in order to meet all legal requirements.
County Clerk Tracy Smith, who also serves as the county’s election official, explained that there was one outstanding Federal Post Card Application (which military personnel can obtain for their unit voting officer or service or state department voting action officer for in order to vote by absentee ballot) that could still come in. The law requires that the county give until Nov. 9, for the FPCA to come in by mail.
The vote must be canvassed by Nov. 15, but can be done in a special setting, and only two members of the court required to be present for it, Smith noted.
Newsom told Smith to let the Court know when that will be or they can put it on the next court agenda.
Budget Amendments, Equipment Financing
County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook presented for and received court approval to make two budget amendments for Precinct 4.
She reported Precinct 4 had received a $4,674.38 in insurance proceeds from a vehicle that’d been involved in an accident, as well as another insurance check for $138,767.50 a tractor that burned. She requested approval to move the insurance funds for the truck into the Precinct 4 repairs and maintenance fund so that the funding can be used to pay for repairs to the truck. The other funds, she said, should go into the Precinct 4 machinery and equipment fund to replace the burnded tractor.
Aulsbrook also recommended accepting City National Bank’s quote of 2.55% to finance a Bomag reclaimer, which the Commissioners Court in a previous session granted approval to Commissioner Mickey Barker to purchase for $307,500 for Precinct 1. The county received only two finance quotes for the equipment purchase. Alliance Bank’s quote was for 3.25%. CNB was recommended based on the lower rate. Barker plans to put a $50,000 downpayment on the equipment, leaving $257,500 to be financed, with payments to be made over the next 6 years.
The Commissioners Court also unanimously agreed to finance the Precinct 1 equipment purchase through CNB at a rate of 2.55%.
381, Road Maintenance Agreements
Hopkins County Commissioners Court was asked to consider granting Hopkins Energy LLC’s request that the 381 agreement with the county be extended or postponed by one year as the project has been “postponed because of various circumstances.” Judge Newsom noted the request was no different than requests the county had approved from several other companies.
Prior to voting, the court allowed anyone from the community who might wish to speak to do so.
Michelle Barnes asked how community members can get a copy of the agreement, since the Comptroller’s office is now taking all paperwork online, not by email or mail. She said it is her understanding the court has 14 days to file the document, and asked how community members would know when it is filed and how they can get a copy of it once it is.
Newsom said the County Clerk’s Office would file it. Smith said it would be filed in the court minutes and could be obtained from that. Barnes said she didn’t know if it would be available online so she wouldn’t have to go see anyone to request it or bother anyone, to get a copy of the document.
The county judge said if an email adress is provided, his adminstrative assistant could email it to her home.
That was the second time Barnes addressed the Commissioners Court during the regular Nov. 8 session. During public forum held earlier in the meeting, Barnes sated that contrary to what Bill Pentak with Open Windows who provides public relations for the parent company behind the planned Dike solar project, Dike residents’ efforts to have their community incorporated is not an effort for more government control. She said it is the opposite.
“Well, the main purpose of incorporating is to make sure the people of Dike, Texas are heard before decisions are made that can affect the residents,” Barnes said. “That is the main goal that we are having.”
Barnes also said, based on her research of Sampson solar facility in Cunningham, she believes the court will “more than likely” receive not only funding from the solar company, but also more money from the people who live around it.
“I have found out that those that lost their ag exemptons, their property tax went up by 90 percent. Properties without ag exemptions in the pastand located at the near fartherest northwest quadrant of the solar power plant saw 7-28% increase in property assessments,” Barnes said during public forum. “There was even a property in the middle of Cunningham that had no solar power panels on it that went up by 215%, and even the Cunningham Baptist Church which is tax exempt, they don’t owe taxes, their assessment went up 318%. So, all of these raised property values were done from 2020 assessment to 2021, just one year after solar power plant went in.
“So, I and a lot of Dike residents are wondering, what is the purpose of the solar power plant, if you’re going to be replacing all of the agriculture with solar power plants. You’ve already redistricted it to be an industrial thing, what is going to happento the taxes? Are you going to be taking even more money from the residents in Dike by assessing the property taxes that we actually have out there that’s compared to right now? And, what’s going to happen after the solar power plant?” Barnes asked during the public forum.
Newsom thanked Barnes for her comments during public forum, but the Commissioners Court did not make any further comments or response to her questions and statements, but instead moved on to the next item on the court agenda.
David Knaus, owner of property on County Road 3520 in Dike, also addressed the court when the amended agreeement and restatement of the Hopkins Energy LLC agreement was presented. He asked if there would be anything specifically that would be different in the amended and restated agreement as proposed.
“It’s one year. It extends it one year. Instead of starting in 2022 it starts in 2023,” Newsom said.
“So to be clear, the only thing that’s been changed is the date. Do we have any dates, the expiration of this agreement, the exact date it will expire?” Knaus asked.
“It will expire in 2032. It’s a 10-year agreement,” Newsom said.”There’s a 2023 start, if they do any work befor that time – if the project were to start work in 2022 – because it’s postponed, any work before that would be appraised by the local appraisers for the amount of money owed in taxes. The agreement is a payment in lieu of taxes; the first year, the county would receive $400,000, part of which would go toward maintenance of county roads.”
He said a payment of $256,000 would then be made for the next nine years. Any agreements between Hopkins Energy LLC and the shools or the hospital district would be separate agreements from the county agreement.
After both Barnes and Knaus’ comments, the Commissioners Court unanimously approved the amended and restated agreement with Hopkins Energy LLC as presented.
The Court then was asked to consider approving a road maintenance agreement with Stampede Solar Project LLC. Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley said it was his understanding the county had received all of the required documents and documentation, including a letter of credit for $50,000, needed for a road maintenance agreement with the company planning the solar project in Saltillo.
Newsom said he had seen the agreement, but had not yet seen the letter of credit, and asked the company representative if he had that ready. Zach Precopia, project manager for Stampede Solar LLC developer Enel Green Power, said the information was emailed on Friday, and the judge’s adminstrative assistant should have a copy of it as well.
The road maintenance agreement with Stampede Solar Project LLC received unanimous approval of the Commissioners Court.
Asset Disposal
The Commissioners Court approved disposal of assets from the Civic Center, Precinct 3 and Precinct 4.
The Civic Center plans to place into Auctioner Express’ online auction panels, gates, posts, roping shuts, bleachers, folding chairs, and a Kabota tractor with loader.
Precinct 3 also has a Ford F250 pickup that Commissioner Wade Bartley said is old and worn out that will be replaced with another service truck, a Miller welder that’s also very well worn, an industrial air compressor and possible 1-3 other items that have already been replaced. The air compressor and welder are not dependable, so Bartley plans to replace them with new items, and offer them for auction on November 20 at Calvary Auctions in Commerce.
Precinct 4 had previoulsy put some items in an auction, but they did not sell because they are really old. 1977 chip spreader, boomer mower slide fold joystick and bushog shredder. Those items have been scrapped through Dubb’s recycling and received $2,106 for them. Commissioner Joe Price noted the chip shreader did receive a $100 bid, but was worth more to scrap them, so that’s how they were disposed of.
Other Business
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace BJ Teer was recognized for successfully completing 14 hours of training in the medicolegal death investigation, specifically “A Review of Cause, Manner and Mechanism of Death,” a course hosted Nov. 1-2 by Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute.
1st Annual Chili and Fried Chicken Contest Set for Nov 19, 20 at Pacific Park
Registration deadline to cook was November 10. Serving will begin at 11am after judging.For more details phone Johnny Wright at 903-348-1009.
SSHS Wildcat Threatre’s 2021 Fall Production, The SpongeBob Musical, Debuts Nov. 11
The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Theatre will present the critically-acclaimed, Tony award-winning “The SpongeBob Musical” at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and Nov. 13, and a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 14, at the SSHS Auditorium (at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.)
Sulphur Springs Elementary and High School will get a preview of Act 1 of the play Friday, a little taste of to whet the appetite for the full program offered two more times over the weekend. The musical is a little over 2 hours, with an intermission between acts.
“SpongeBob the Musical is super fun. It just basically takes the characters everyone knows and loves – or hates – from SpongeBob the cartoon and kind of turns them into people: What happens if they are suddenly human on stage,” SSHS Wildcat Theatre Director Lesha Woodard said. “It’s been really fun. The kids have done an amazing job and I’m really proud of them.”
In this production, SpongeBob and his friends spring from television to the SSHS stage in an exciting event featuring original music from superstars of all genres with original songs by Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, David Bowie, Panic at the Disco, Steven Tyler, T.I., and many more. Other productions of this musical, declared brilliant by the New York Times, with its message of inclusivity and fun-for-the-whole-family community-oriented humor, make it a must-see. This version includes lots of props and sets, and features plenty of tech too.
“It takes us through a journey of SpongeBob helping save his town. It’s a super cute story. It’s full of joy and love and fun. We’ve had a lot of fun with it,” Woodard said. “It’s a super fun musical.”
In keeping with tradition, the fall musical is inclusive of any who are interested in participating. Almost all of the students enrolled in theater classes will be participating, along with some choir students and other SSHS students who thought it’d be fun to try.
“We’ve got some younger kids participating with us this year and we’ve got Mr. Williams, the assistant superintendent, and some teachers and tons of high school kids working cast and crew,” Woodard said. “That’s one thing I love about the fall musical. Anyone who wants to be involved can be involved and we usually find a place that showcases people’s strengths.”
Junior Austin Crump leads The SpongeBob Musical cast as SpongeBob. He is backed up by seniors Savannah Lilley as Sandy, AllieGrace Woodard as Patrick, Lucy Braddy as Mr. Krabs, Emilie Gotcher as Squidward, and RJ Penny as Plankton, junior Danielle Verlander as Pearl Krabs, and freshman Aiden Woodard as Patchy the Pirate.
Other cast members include seniors Caleb Talmage and Brandon Williams; juniors Khira Young, Colbie Glenn, and Ricardo Chavarria; sophomores Oliver Falter, Betzy Chacón, Jolene Reed, Caroline Prickette, Cadyn Spigner, Addison Bradley, Camila Hidalgo, Talley Brown, Cadrian Davis, and Lorelai Lilley; and freshmen Audrey Tanton and Aspen Mayhew. Community and younger actors include Josh Williams, Cindy Welch, Melissa and Finley Peugh, Emery Brown, Nathan Woodard, and Gerald Grafton.
Crew members are led by Senior Stage Manager Anayeli De La Cruz, Senior Technical Stage Manager Brandon Williams, and Junior Stage Manager Markida Hood. Other crew members include senior Heather Horne, Junior Keziah Sims, Sophmores Esme Santacruz, Madilyn Lindley, Gil Fykes, and Addison Graves; and freshmen Bella Driver, Summer Patterson, and Alaya Mims.
Directed by Lesha Woodard, with musical direction by Beth Cole, additional choreography by Amanda Brandenburgh and additional tech direction by Kris Luce, the SSHS presentation is sponsored, in part, by Sulphur Springs Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Alliance Bank, and Coldwell Banker.
Tickets are $10 in advance from any cast or crew member or online at bit.ly/wildcattheatre. Tickets will also be available at the door.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Earns 5th Consecutive ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
[email protected]
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. This is the hospital’s fifth consecutive ‘A’ safety grade.
Carter BloodCare Blood Drive: The current blood shortage is the severely low
Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive in the CBC bus at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs in the front parking lot on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call or Text (800) 366-2834 or visit their website at www.carterbloodcare.org. As a thank you, donors will receive a long-sleeved shirt.
Flu Shots: Do not Delay, Get Yours Today
Flu shots are available at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, 105 Medical Plaza. We welcome walk-ins or by appointment; to schedule call 903.885.3181.
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 offers a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson (1-dose, ages 18 and older).
*** This includes all three brands of boosters for fully vaccinated people. Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
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-age 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:
Services
Orthopedic | Sports Medicine
FREE Saturday Athletic Injury Clinic for student athletes of all ages continues every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through November 13. Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The clinic location is 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.
Urology
Did you know we can take care of almost all of your medical specialty needs right here in Sulphur Springs? Just one of many is our Urologist Dr. Loren Ost, and his Nurse Practitioner Leah Irving. Dr. Ost and Leah see patients who have concerns of the urinary system in both male and females, as well as the reproductive organs of the male. They are located at 113 Airport Road, Suite 300, and may be reached by calling 903.885.1770.
Dermatology
Dermatology & Skin Cancer Surgery Center is now practicing in Sulphur Springs and accepting patients under the care of Roxanne Swafford, FNP. She is seeing patients at 1228 Church St., Suite D. To schedule your appointment, call 903.689.7272. You may also schedule online at www.mdbarrows.com.
# # #
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
Volunteer Fire Departments Receive Funding For Truck Tires
Funds From Scrap Metal Deposited At Precinct Barns Benefits County’s 11 VFDs
The 11 county volunteer fire departments received funding for tires for their apparatus this week from Hopkins County Commissioners. Each department received $2,000 to apply toward tire purchases at the county rate from an area vendor, thanks to scrap metal turned in by each commissioners.
The county commissioners previously agreed to further help the volunteer fire departments by putting all funding they receive from turning in scrap metal into one account designated to benefit the county’s 11 VFDs. The account has accumulated about $30,000 in the past 1 1/2 years, enough funding to give each volunteer fire department $2,000 to apply toward the purchase of tires.
“The Court has implemented a program where they are going to start using the scrap metal citizens turn in to the precincts, whatever precinct your live in. It’s a win-win for both parties,” Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley explained. “If you’ve got some scrap metal you don’t want to have anything to do with and you want to get rid of it, and you want to give it to the county, the county actually takes that money and puts it into a special account for the volunteer fire departments spread out through the whole county – all 11 volunteer departments. It helps them with their tire program.”
This will not only help the departments, which are largely dependent on donations and allocations from Hopkins County Commissioners Court, to stretch their funding for other upkeep, repairs and utility costs, but will also make the fire department vehicles safer and allow each to meet state standards. Texas Department of Transportation is now recommending that there be no tires older than 5 years old on any first responder vehicle, according to Endsley.
The fire chief said county officials conducted an audit of each VFD to see what tires were needed the most and in what areas, to help get the tires older than 5 years old on trucks off the road. Each department can use that funding at a designated vendor and receive a discounted government rate; the VFD officers can decide if they wish to put more funding with the county money, if they choose or have it, to completely replace all tires on a vehicle or even out on one end.
“This is money not taken from the general fund. This money that is donated from people donating their scrap metal from their homes, residence, or wherever they might have it, and taking it to their precinct barn, and they’ll take care of it. It’s win-win. You get to clean up your yard, on your property, and the money goes towards a great program. We hope to keep this going for some time,” Endsley said.
Often, fire departments put four new tires on a fire truck, as well as front steer tires. The volunteer fire departments that only have brush trucks, not engines or tankers, may be able to get a complete set of tires for their truck. The large truck tires, typically even with government pricing, cost between $400 to $800 per tire, according to the county fire chief.
The Arbala VFD Chief said she hopes to get 2 or 3 tires out of that $2,000, maybe even squeeze four from it.
The VFD officers present at Monday’s Commissioners Court to receive their tire funding noted the funding is something they’ve asked for and needed for a while, and is much appreciated.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court during budget workshops conducted to shape the county budget meet with the volunteer fire department chiefs and officers to hear how things are going and what their greatest needs are and make requests. Assistance with costs of tires was one of the requests posed more than once to the court. The commissioners opted to use the scrap metal dropped off by residents either during the annual spring clean up days or brought during regular work hours to the precinct barns to help the fire departments instead of putting the funding into the general budget, the county fire marshal said.
The county will be accepting scrap metal, which will be sold to benefit the VFDs, not only during spring clean up but during any regular work day for the county. Metal appliances, without toxic chemicals, can be brought or any other mostly metal item that county residents want to get rid of. The scrap metal must be brought to the precinct barn. Most of the time the precinct crews work Monday-Friday until about 3 p.m., but may not necessarily be at the barn during that entire time as they may be working on site making repairs and doing other work throughout the precinct. To ensure a precinct worker is on hand to accept items, call the courthouse to make arrangements to drop the items off or contact Hopkins County Fire Department at 903-439-6217.
If brought during spring clean up hours, precinct workers will be on hand to receive the items, and to dig through the discarded items to separate the scrap metal form the other trash and debris.
“We’ll be doing that again in the spring time, but it will be open any time, that way this program can continue on,” Endsley said. “We hope to get the word out. We hope each one of the departments will tell their area out there that they represent that we have a program that is for tires.”
In addition to the funding from scrap metal going to the departments to help purchase tires, Hopkins County provides the VFDs with reimbursement for fuel costs, workers compensation and monthly stipends.
