HHSC: Texas Decreases Use Of Antipsychotic Drugs In Nursing Facilities
Statewide Effort Improves Long-Term Care Residents’ Well-Being, According To State Officials
AUSTIN – Texas has decreased its use of antipsychotic drugs in nursing facilities by 58 percent – more than any other state, according to a report from the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes.
“Reducing the use of these medications directly improves the quality of residents’ life in nursing facilities, and we are proud of this result,” said Stephanie Stephens, state Medicaid director at Texas HHSC. “We have worked closely with providers to educate them on the use of these medications and on alternative strategies to address behavioral issues with residents, particularly those with dementia.”
Texas now ranks 11th in the nation in terms of reducing prevalence of antipsychotic drug use for long-term-care residents. A key measure of nursing facility quality — and one tracked closely by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — is the use of antipsychotic medications for residents, particularly those with dementia.
In 2011, Texas was ranked 51st in the nation for highest use of antipsychotic medications, with 28.8 percent of nursing facility residents receiving antipsychotic medications.
Since that time HHSC launched several initiatives to reduce the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing facility residents, including implementing specialized training programs focusing on dementia care for nursing facility providers and staff, creating an online toolkit for licensed vocational nurses, and establishing the Center for Excellence in Aging Services and Long-Term Care, a collaboration between HHSC and The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing that provides web-based training and resources for best practices in geriatrics and disabilities.
The collaboration between HHSC, providers, advocacy groups, industry groups and many others has resulted in a significant, sustained reduction in the use of antipsychotic medications. At the same time, starting in 2015 HHSC identified an increase in new diagnoses of schizophrenia in Texas nursing facility residents. HHSC convened a workgroup of stakeholders and partners to address this and discuss the state’s shared commitment to working collaboratively to ensure accurate diagnoses and quality of care.
The Texas HHS Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman also educated residents on the use of antipsychotics. The program published an educational brochure for residents, family members, and facility staff to ensure residents were only getting prescribed these powerful drugs with an appropriate diagnosis.
“Texans deserve to be supported in the care planning process, and we have worked closely with residents and families all over the state to ask questions about the purpose of a new prescription, help residents communicate any side effects of a drug, and support residents with seeking alternatives to antipsychotic drugs when possible,” said State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Patty Ducayet.
Other efforts to decrease antipsychotic use in Texas have included the implementation of the Music and Memory program, which provides MP3 players to seniors with dementia to help them reconnect with the world through music-triggered memories, which can improve quality of life and quality of care. The program was launched in 2015 as a pilot program in nursing facilities and at HHSC’s state supported living centers and Austin State Hospital in 2016. Since then, more than 1,000 nursing homes across Texas have taken part in the HHSC Music & Memory program. For more information on the Music and Memory program, visit the HHS website.
More information is available at hhs.texas.gov. Texas residents can dial 2-1-1 to learn about programs and services.
Additional Charges Added For Man Accused Of Stalking
Additional charges were added to the list of offenses the 41-year-old Sulphur Springs man accused of stalking earlier in the week is beind held on, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes at 2:10 p.m. Thursday, April 29, served Christopher James Timmons at the county jail with a felony warrant for criminal mischief resulting in damages in the amount of $2,500 to $30,000.
The charge stems from the incident alleged to have occurred around 2 p.m. Monday, April 26, at the home of a woman he’d previously dated. Timmons is accused of ramming the Kia Rio he was driving into the side of a Hyundai Elantra parked 10 yards off the street and continued forward. A Ford F150 pickup parked in the woman’s driveway reportedly sustained more than $1,200 worth of damage and the Elantra was expected to be totaled, according to police reports.
Timmons reportedly left the Kia running and left the location on foot before police arrived. He was not immediately located in the area.
However, at approximately 5:30 p.m. April 26, police responded on College Street, where a man was reportedly standing in the middle of the road with a knife. Upon contact with the man, identified as Timmons, police alleged the 41-year-old showed signs of intoxication and admitted to consuming Xanax and alcohol. When the officer attempted to place Timmons into custody for public intoxication, he allegedly became combative. After getting him into custody, Timmons requested medical attention. After being cleared with no injuries, he was transported to jail for PI.
SCU served Timmons Tuesday, April 27, with a warrant for stalking for allegedly following his ex-girlfriend from her place of work to her residence, the address where he reportedly crashed the Kia into the two other vehicles. Police were aware of at least three prior instances in which Timmons walked back and forth in front of the woman’s residence, after being warned by law enforcement to discontinue doing so and not to trespass on the property, according to arrest reports. He was served with the criminal mischief warrant on Thursday, according to arrest and jail reports.
Timmons remained in Hopkins County jail Friday, April 30, 2021. Bond on the stalking charge was set at $100,000, according to jail reports.
Archer Named State Champion In Latino History, 3 Additional SSHS Students Among Top 5 In Essay Contests
Sulphur Springs High School students brought home four awards, including a state title, following UIL’s announced April 30 of winners for UIL Essay contests.
Junior Harley Archer was named the 2021 State Champion in the Latino History Essay Competition with her essay entitled “Bea Salazar: Changing Lives One Sandwich at a Time.” Archer’s win marks the second consecutive year a SSHS student has captured the Latino History Essay competition title. Rachel Bramlett won the championship in 2020 with her essay “Fingerprints of Success: Rick Garcia’s Impact on Texas.”
Padraig Flanary, a senior, placed 4th in the Latino History Essay competition with a paper about Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores while and Alexis Villarino, a freshman, placed 5th with an essay about the Chicano Mural Movement’s impact on Texas.
The theme of the 2020-2021 Latino History Essay competition was “historical and cultural legacies of Latinos in Texas history.” Essays were to be focused on a prominent or relatively unknown Latino individual, organization or movement in Texas histor and how the subject has significantly influenced today’s Latino communities.
Archer and Paige Daniels were also named as finalists, with their essays about Harley Archer and Rowena Johnson, while junior Emily Dick finished fourth place in the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition with her essay about Vicki Meek.
Students were tasked with exploring the contributions of African Americans to Texas history in their essays, while honoring the legacy of its namesake, Barbara Jordan in this contest. The theme of the 2020-2021 competition was “African Americans in Texas: Past and Present.”
Over 300 papers were read in the two competitions and 12 finalists were named in each of the state essay competitions. SSHS had 3 papers in each event that qualified as finalists. The papers of each finalist are added to the historical record of the State of Texas at the University of Texas in Austin.
“Congratulations to these students and to their coach, Gail Herman,” said Sulphur Springs High School UIL Campus Coordinator Gerald Grafton Friday afternoon. “Tomorrow, May 1, the UlL Academics Team travels to Commerce to compete for State Championships in Copy Editing, Headline Writing, Social Studies and Literary Criticism. Best Wishes to our teams.”
To view the virtual 2021 Essay Competition Awards or more information about either contest, Click Here.
Hopkins County Records – April 30, 2021
Land Deed Transactions
- TTT Limited to Gene Burton and Julie Burton; tract in the Country Club Estates
- TTT Limited to Saywer Sinclair; tract in the Country Club Estates
- Gary Lewis and Rachel H. Lewis to Nicole Lynn Zamora and Ryan Michael Zamora; tract in the Agaton Caro survey
- Larry G. Newton and Sharon K. Newton to Jeffrey Gene Newton
- Katelyn Beech to Andrew Dansby; tract in the E. Melton survey
- 100 MPH+ Property Management LLC to Andre James Simon and Ronna Denise Simon; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Andreas Rubalcav,a who is also known as Andres Rubalcava, and Juoliet Rubalcava to Olga Rubalcava and Roman Rubalcava; tract in the Benjamin Anderson survey
- Don R. Santorufo independently and as trustee for the Don R. Santorufo Trust U/T/A DTD, to Kelli Leigh Geraci and Troy Geraci; tract in the John Polk survey
- Marilyn Kay Dunlap Estate, Marshall E. Dunlap independent executor, to Connie Mae Dunlap and Marshall E. Dunlap; tract in the Nacogdoches University survey
- Mary Joanne Rully known as Mary Joanne Britton, to Charles Ray Rollins and Jeni Denise Rollins; tract in the Jose Zunega survey
- City Cemetery Society Sulphur Springs to Danny Cavanaugh; tract in Sunset South
- David Pittenger to E3 Land & Minerals LLC; tract in the NB Westerman survey
- ECT GS 12 Trust, EKT GS 12 Trust, Carol Jeanne Davis Troute and Emily Trout-Ellenberger independent co-trustees, James Howard Trout Jr. Estate, Eric Carl Trout and Emily Trout-Ellenberger to HJT Partners LP
- Arthur Glenn Banks and Virginia Ann Banks to Curtis L. Maddux and Paula Maddux; tract int he Nathaniel Hamilton survey
- Joy Nell Willingtham to Candace Ashmore and Layne Ashmore; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- B. Sloan and Roddy Sloan to Florinda Guzman Solis and Jose Efrain Solis; tract in the Daniel Halbrooks survey
- Jillian Marie Smith to Abigail Stiltner and Neville Ray Stiltner; tract in the E. Melton survey
- Misty Brock and Robert C. Brock to \Tarra Askew and Nathan Smith; tract in the Lincoln Heights Addition
- Betty Hawkins and Frankie J. Hawkins to McIlrath Properties LLC; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- The Queens Place Inc. to Wood Investment Group LLC; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Calvin Earp and Sonia Earp to Andrew Garcia and Rachael Garcia
Applications for Marriage Licenses
- Clifford Dell Huie and Carol Sue Jones
- Colten James Holguin and Megan Alicia Belz
- Wiepie Jongsma and Jennifer Leigh Sandlin
- Edgar Dow Clements Jr. and Theresa A. Parrish-Herron
- Cameron Scott Matthew and Hannah Desiree Evans
- Robert Randall Hill and Lisa Katherine Mansfield
- Kolby Lee Clayton and Brittany Magan Fletcher
SSHS Pole Vaulting Coach Clark Cipoletta Discusses Lady Cat Claire Bybee Who is Heading To State
Sulphur Springs High School Pole Vaulting Coach Clark Cipoletta says he is just a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to coaching Lady Cats’ pole vaulter Claire Bybee, who qualified for the State Track Meet May 7-8 at UT Austin at the Region II Track Meet on April 24 at UTA.
Coach Cipoletta says Bybee also gets good instruction from a private coach and from her father, who was a vaulter in college.
He says Bybee is a hard worker and pole vaults year round. Coach Cipoletta says she is reaping the benefits of all that.
He says Bybee just missed going to state by a couple of inches as a freshman and then did not get a chance to go due to COVID-19 last year.
Coach Cipoletta says Bybee vaulted a personal best of 12′ 3” earlier this track season.
Then she soared to 12′ 9” at the regional meet to take first place. Coach Cipoletta says there are several keys to Bybee’s success including her competitiveness, her toughness and the way she handles pressure.
He adds she has great technique, gets vertical on the pole and gets her hands up early. He says Bybee has some background with gymnastics that also helps.
Plus Coach Cip says Bybee’s speed creates power for her jump and he says she is also long and tall, which is also a benefit.
Coach Cipoletta says Bybee will enter the state meet with the top jump in the field. He says she will still have to go and perform on her big day at state.
He says Bybee seems to get better and better every week.
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.
Lady Cats Softball Opens Bi-District Series Friday at Marshall, Weather Permitting
Weather permitting, the Lady Cats Softball Team will open their bi-district series with Lufkin with a doubleheader at Marshall Friday (April 30) beginning at 6 p.m.
The first team to win two games will advance to the Area round. The Lady Cats are a #1 seed and Lufkin is a #4 seed.
The Lady Cats are 22-3 for the season and Marshall is 13-12.
The winner of the Lady Cats and Lady Panthers series will face the winner of a Crandall and Joshua series in Area.
The Lady Cats enter play Friday evening red hot having won their last 13 games.
KRVA-FM, 107.1, will bring you the Lady Cats and Lufkin doubleheader live starting at 6 p.m. Ross Labenske will do the play by play.
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.
PJC Opens Virtual “Pyro PlayFest: A Few of Our Favorites” This Thursday
Finding comfort in the familiar, Paris Junior College opens a limited virtual run of the “Seventh New Works Festival: Pyro Playfest – A Few of Our Favorites” this Thursday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. The free festival will be available on the PJC YouTube channel until Sunday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m.
The playfest features original works that have not been previously performed. While in-person performances are not currently allowed due to the pandemic, each play has been filmed live on the Duane Allen Stage in the Ray E. Karrer Theater and compiled into a single video.
“What connects everything is that these playwrights have written for us in the past,” said PJC Drama Instructor and Festival Director William L. Walker. “We invited our favorites to come back and submit whatever they created and we picked a show from among the ones they sent us. Also, everyone involved is tied to PJC; they’re either PJC students, alumni, or supporters.”
Plays and associated casts include:
• “Cheerleaders and Cheeseburgers,” by Rex McGregor
A coach encourages two cheerleaders to eat healthy, but she meets stern resistance.
Directed by: Hunter Anderson
Miss Jacobs – Annabel Doss
Amber – Sarah Elizabeth Cadle
Mandy – Maddy Stuckey
• “Rememberance,” by Spencer O’Connor
Two people with a strange connection arrive too early for funeral services.
Directed by: William L. Walker
Man – David Forward
Woman – Annabel Doss
• “The Weird Sisters Go Rogue,” by Dwayne Yancey
The witches from “Macbeth” start rehearsing a performance of Shakespeare’s play, then
get different ideas.
Directed by: William L. Walker
First Witch – Robyn R. Huizinga
Second Witch – Lisa Martin
Third Witch – Amy Clark Braswell Burrows
• “It’s Just Zoom,” by Donna Latham
Viv, owner of It’s Just Brunch, adapts to social distancing to connect her client Zoe with
prospective dates. Adaptation and resilience for the win!
Directed by: Connor Kirkley
Zoe – Maddy Stuckey
Viv – Sarah Elizabeth Cadle
Todd – Kaleb Speakman
Crockett – David Forward
• “Beautiful Strangers,” by Brad Nies
A docudrama that depicts the shocking murder that brutally outed closeted Hollywood
legend Ramon Novarro. Warning: Play contains adult themes.
Directed by: Brandon McCormick
Edward Weber – Will Walker
Ramon Novarro – Daniel Martinez
• “Birdseed,” by Matthew Weaver
Actual excerpts from actual reviews of actual birdseed on Amazon.
Directed by: Kaleb Speakman
1 – Connor Kirkley
2 – Hunter Anderson
3 – Annabel Doss
Chorus – Brandon McCormick
• “Curse of the Wagging Tongue” by Eoin Carney
A Private Investigator who struggles with privacy finds true love.
Warning: Play contains adult themes and some adult language.
Directed by: Robyn R. Huizinga
Private Dick – Connor Kirkley
Dame #1 – Brandon Mccormick
Dame #2 – Kaleb Speakman
Dame #3 – Hunter Anderson
PlayFest Crew: PJC drama scholarship students. Videography and editing of the plays will be handled by Michelle Wood, Director of the Wesley Center at PJC.
For more information on the Playfest or drama scholarships at Paris Junior College, email [email protected]. To see the limited-time video performance, go to https://www.youtube.com/c/parisjuniorcollegesince1924.
PJC Regents Approve New Internet Service
Though Paris Junior College was aware that internet service provided through the NETnet consortium of 15 East Texas colleges and universities was slated to end in 2022, a legal ruling affecting the Federal Trade Commission forced PJC to find a new provider much sooner.
At the Monday, April 26, 2021 meeting, the Regents approved the selection of Lone Star Education and Research Network (LEARN) to provide internet service to PJC locations in Paris, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs. While costing the College slightly more, the new service will include redundant circuits not currently available, thus improving reliability.
In other business, the Regents:
- Approved McClanahan and Holmes LLP to conduct the 2020-2021 audit of PJC and the PJC Memorial Foundation.
- Approved the re-sale of 24 properties bid-off to the City of Paris.
“These lots weren’t sold at the sale on the courthouse steps,” said Dr. Pam Anglin, PJC President. “They will go to the highest bidder and be put back on the tax rolls.”
- As part of the President’s Report, regents learned that current funding bills in the Texas Legislature would cut PJC funding by about $1.1 million. PJC would be one of 32 Texas community colleges currently slated to lose funding. The Texas Association of Community Colleges is requesting an additional $46 million to prevent such cuts. PJC was cut $1 million over the last biennium.
Regents were also updated on Student Achievement Targets. They will remain largely the same since they are tied to success points and funding. The state merged reading and writing into one target so that update will be made.
- Accepted the hiring of Mechatronics Instructor Jeff Frankland effective March 29, and the resignations of SBDC Business Recovery Advisor Ronica Ingram effective April 2 and Associate Degree Nursing Instructor Melinda Garrett effective August 31.
Como-Pickton CISD, Yantis and Cumby ISD Elections To Be Determined May 1
Cumby Residents To Vote on $7.34M-7.941M In Bond Proposals; CP, Yantis Holding School Board Elections
Early voting in local school bond and trustees elections concluded Tuesday, with relatively low early voting turnouts reported in Como-Pickton and Yantis ISD elections, but a higher turn out for the Cumby ISD two-proposal $7.34-7.941 million bond election than the bond election conducted in 2019.
Como-Pickton CISD Trustees Election
In the Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees Election, early voting concluded with approximately 65 of the district’s 2,168 registered voters casting ballots during the early voting period. That leaves 2,103 registered voters who have yet to select their choice of candidates for our seats on the school board.
Votes in Como-Pickton CISD will have one more opportunity to cast ballots on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021, at CPCISD, in Room 114 in front of the building, 13017 State Highway 11 east in Como.
Voters are asked to vote for up to three of the five candidates vying for a full term seat on the school board as well as the special election for one expired term seat on the school board.
Seats are at large, so the three full-term seats will go to the three candidates receiving the most votes in this election. Candidates for a full four-year term on the board include Cole Boseman, incumbent Jessica Pegues, Clif Carpenter, incumbent Shiloh Childress and Stephanie Cotton.
Unopposed on the May 1 CPCSISD trustees ballot in the special election for the two-year unexpired term on the school board is incumbent D.J. Carr.
CLICK HERE to view candidate profiles for all 6 CPCISD trustee candidates.
Cumby ISD Bond Election
A total of 129 early votes were cast during the early voting period, which spanned April 19-27. While election officials report is more than twice the early turnout for the 2019 bond election that failed, Cumby ISD has a total of 1529 registered voters, 121 registered in Hunt County and 1408 registered in Hopkins County. That leaves 1,400 registered voters within Cumby ISD who have yet to cast ballots. Voters will have one more opportunity to vote in the Cumby ISD bond election from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day, Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Cumby ISD Administration Building, which is located at 301 Donelton Street in Cumby.
Voters are asked to vote either for or against two different propositions. Proposition A would fund $7.34 million in bonds for facilities improvements at the elementary, including a cafeteria expansion and address drainage issues; construction of a new high school; conversion of the current junior high/high school building into an intermediate school; and a new metal agriculture shop. This would increase the tax rate from $1.14 to $1.45 per $100 property valuation. Proposition B is contingent on Proposition A passing. If both pass, Proposition B would allow the district to use $600,000 in bonds for a new track. This would increase the tax rate from $1.14 to $1.47 per $100 property valuation.
If either or both of the proposals pass, the increased tax rate would not change homestead exemptions for senior citizens who have one on file with the school tax office; improvements made on the homestead property over the last year could increase the appraisal value of the property, which could impact the resident’s tax bill however.
Click here for more information about the two Cumby bond proposals. Additional information is also available on the Cumby ISD website (cumbyisd.net) or by calling the Cumby ISD Administration Office during business hours Friday at (903) 994-4800, for specific voting information.
Yantis ISD Trustees Election
In the Yantis Independent School District Board of Trustees election, only 28 of the district’s 2852 registered voters took advantage of the early voting period to cast ballots. The remaining 2,824 voters still have an opportunity to cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, this Saturday, May 1, in the front lobby of Imogene Glenn Elementary. 105 West Oak in Yantis.
Voters in Yantis ISD are asked to choose up to three of the four candidates on the ballot for full three-year term seats on Yantis ISD Board of Trustees. The seats are at-large and will go to the three candidates receiving the most votes.
The candidates include Carrie Hurley, Ashly Vivion, Stacey Batchelor and incumbent Tyra Dee Gilbreath Kenemore.
CLICK HERE to read CANDIDATE PROFILES for all four candidates in the Yantis ISD Board of Trustees Election.
Be sure to check www.KSSTRadio.com and KSST 1230 AM for results of the Cumby ISD bond election, and the Como-Pickton and Yantis ISD trustees elections as they come in. Election results in all election remain unofficial until canvassed.
Vaccine Supplies Plentiful, Available Through CHRISTUS Vaccine Clinic Roll-Outs
During the Thursday April 29, 2021 Good Morning Show on KSST, CHRISTUS CEO Paul Harvey and CNO Anitha Sanderson informed listeners about plentiful vaccines in all three types, now available through Vaccine Clinics being scheduled through the hospital. Check the hospital website, CHRISTUStmf.org and stay tuned to KSST for clinic dates during May. Or you may phone Holly Ragan at 903-439-4033 to put your name on a list to receive your choice of vaccines.
As a part of their ministry, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs is pleased to announce that COVID Vaccines are available free of charge by appointment as Vaccine Roll-Outs are planned during May 2021 for local residents. So far, over the past two months, about 7500 vaccines have been given, In a vaccine clinic held on April 28, 400 vaccines were readied, while only 200 persons came to get their vaccine. As the news spreads about the Vaccine Roll-Outs, they hope that everyone in the community who wants or needs a vaccine can get theirs quickly and easily as well as free of charge. Persons who are still on a waiting list with another organization are welcome to inquire about the CHRISTUS vaccine clinics. Additionally, local pharmacies continue to offer vaccines as well.
To view the interview, click HERE
