4 SSHS Choir Students Earn 1s At State Solo & Ensemble Contest
Congratulations to Sulphur Springs High School seniors Haylee Fletcher and Jatavion Hall, and freshmen, Alan Guzman and Will (Bradley) Sims, on their choral accomplishments. The SSHS choir students earned 1st division ratings at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble contest.
“These students earned their ratings for their solo, which they competed with at regional contest in February, and are the first students in many years to receive this high rating,” SSHS Director Beth Cole said.
City Manager’s Report – June 2021
Sulphur Springs City Council received from City Manager Marc Maxwell the following monthly manager’s report during the June 1, 2021, council meeting:
COVID-19 RESPONSE
The number of active cases in Hopkins County increased 41% since our last meeting with 38 active cases as of May 28th. There are 3 patients in the OVID unit at the hospital.
AIRPORT
Hosted a Classic Jet Aircraft Association (CJAA) event wherein participants purchased 11,000 gallons of JetA fuel, 76 room nights at local hotels and hundreds of meals at local restaurants.
The building is nearly completed. The generator will be installed next along with various plumbing fixtures and appliances. The big remaining issue is the 3 large roll-up doors. The delivery date is a moving target. At this point I have no reason to believe that the doors have even been manufactured. The building will be available for Juneteenth, but the roll-up doors may not be in.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING
Construction drawings are still being prepared by REES Associates. We have hired Tandem Consulting to oversee the construction just like the Grays Building.
Construction is about 50% complete. This $750,000 sewer project is funded entirely by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The new main will supplement an older undersized main. The path of the new main begins at Saputo and continues under the interstate. It then continues South for 3,500 feet before connecting to an existing trunk line. The new main has a 15-inch diameter. This grant is made possible because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Without their
cooperation this project would not have been possible.
Staff has finalized the list of this year’s streets to be paved via the Street Improvement Program (SIP).
COLLEGE STREET
This will be the next reconstruction project after the Saputo Sewer Line Project.
CLAIMS
We did not have any workers compensation claims or liability claims in May.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Made 3 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Patched 397 potholes.
- Cleaned out storm drains 6 times.
- Installed no parking signs on Tomlinson Street.
- Removed 7 trees from city streets following storms.
- Made various curb & gutter repairs in preparation of this year’s Street Improvement Program (SIP).
- Washed 75,000 feet of sewer mains and unstopped 37 sewer mains.
- Repaired 4 ruptured water mains.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Opened Lake Sulphur Springs’ flood gates due to recent rain.
- Treated 140 million gallons of potable water.
- Performed preventative maintenance on various apparatuses at the water and wastewater treatment plants.
- Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of .32 mg/L.
- Sent 341 tons of sludge to the landfill and 198 tons of sludge to the composting facility.
- Checked out 2,338 items from the library and an additional 764 eBooks.
- Responded to 227 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires and 3 vehicle fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.
- Performed 4 fire inspections and reviewed 40 pre-fire plans.
- Sold 2,934 gallons of AvGas and 24,760 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Conducted 27 building inspections, 18 electrical inspections, 5 plumbing inspections, 4 mechanical inspections and issued 22 building permits.
- Started operating the interactive fountains.
- Began the street sweeping cycle.
- Began replacing dead shrubbery because of the freeze.
- Responded to 167 animal control calls while achieving a 78% adoption rate.
- Responded to 2,480 police calls, made 46 arrests, wrote 580 citations, recorded 50 offences, and worked 39 accidents in the patrol division.
- Made 2 felony arrests in the special crimes unit
A Large Number of Campers Are Attending Sulphur Springs Softball Camp
Perhaps it is due to the pandemic that caused the cancellation of all Sulphur Springs ISD sports camps last summer but this year’s early camps this week are drawing some good numbers.
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo was greeted by a large number of softball campers Tuesday afternoon (June 1), especially among older girls entering the 6th through the 9th grades.
48 girls showed up for the camp’s second session.
The earlier session for girls entering the 2nd through the 5th grades had 26 in attendance.
Coach Carrillo said it was one of his biggest camps in a long time.
During an interview between the two sessions, he said the session with the younger girls was awesome and he added he could tell they love playing softball.
Coach Carrillo said he slows things down for the younger group and stresses fundamentals.
Anticipating his second session, he said that camp would move long a little faster with the more advanced older girls.
He said both groups would be doing all aspects of softball like hitting, throwing, catching and fielding. Plus he said he would be mixing in some of what he calls life’s’ lessons.
Coach Carrillo said some of the older group would soon be making the big transition from middle school to high school.
All of this week’s camps, including baseball, girls basketball, volleyball and softball, run through Thursday.
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.
Sulphur Springs City Council Approves Appointments to 11 Boards and Commissions
In addition to swearing in four councilmen, Sulphur Springs City Council approved appointments to 11 boards and commissions, selected which councilmen will serve as mayor and mayor pro tem during Tuesday evening’s regular council meeting.
City Council Re-Organization
After an election in November for four places on the council, then a runoff in December for Place 1, all four councilmen elected to the City Council in 2020 again filed for reelection to their seats this spring. They drew no opponents for their places so the city was able to cancel the City Council Election that was scheduled to be held in May.
City Secretary Gale Roberts, who also serves as the city’s election officer, administered the oath of office June 1, 2021, to Place 1 Councilman Jay Julian, Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr., Place 3 Councilman Oscar Aguilar and Place 5 Councilman Gary Spraggins. All except Spraggins are elected to a full three-year term on the City Council. Spraggins will serve another year of an unexpired term, then will be eligible to seek reelection.
Mayor John Sellers noted that Mayor Pro Tem Freddie Taylor has serve 17 years on the City Council and is beginning his 18th year. Tuesday was the service anniversary for Taylor, who was first sworn in on June 1, 2004, Roberts noted. Place 6 Councilman Doug Moore was nominated and selected to serve a term as mayor pro tem, able to step in if the mayor goes on vacation, is ill or otherwise unable to attend any council meetings or city functions.
John Sellers was nominated to serve another term as mayor. Sellers agreed to the nomination and was unanimously approved to serve another term as mayor.
Spraggins noted that after this year, Sellers will have been mayor for 6 years, which will be one more than other previous council members, as far as current elected officials can tell.
Sellers said serving as mayor of Sulphur Springs, the city where he grew up and returned to more than 20 years ago after college and a brief period working elsewhere, is a privilege and honor.
Sellers expressed appreciation to the men willing to step up and serve as City Council members, especially over the last 1 1/2year.
“It was a difficult year. There was a lot of difficult things. We had to make some hard decisions during that year. I could not have done anything that I’ve done without this council that I have behind me. We started out with not a full council that first of last year, and we were able to add as the year and got back up to seven members, and they’ve been so much help to me.”
The mayor also publicly acknowledged City Secretary Gale Roberts for her steadfast dedication and assistance, always there to help and advise. During the difficult times, she has “always made it go forward.” Sellers also acknowledged City Manager Marc Maxwell as an “absolute partner for me and for this Council.”
Nash also noted that former Sulphur Springs councilman and mayor Valanderous Bell passed away over the weekend. Sellers noted the Council sends their sympathies to Bell’s family. Maxwell reported that services for Bell are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League St.
Interment will follow the service at Restlawn Memorial Park for Bell. Visitation is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2021, at West Oaks Funeral Home.
Boards and Commissions
The City Council also approved as recommended appointments 11 different board and commissions. A few have been appointed to replace individuals who have resigned due to moves or other commitments, but most are individuals who have agreed to continue serving on the various groups. They include:
- Economic Development
- Doug Moore
- Zoning Board Of Adjustment
- Twyla Gill
- Kevin Mohl
- Kyle Robinson
- Alternates:
- Janet Martin
- James Litzler
- Airport Advisory Board
- Dr. Charles Jones
- David Baucom
- Sulphur River Municipal Water District
- Bob Russell
- Library Board
- Carol Gee
- Michelle Mcgill Ivery
- Board Of Tourism And Promotion
- Don Fausett
- Meredith Caddell
- Adam Teer
- Construction Board Of Adjustment And Appeals
- Bobby Harris
- John Cooper
- Jeff Redding
- Planning And Zoning Commission
- Chuck Sickles
- Tommy Harrison
- Ark-Tex Council Of Governments
- John Sellers
- Gary Spraggins
- Harold Nash Sr.
- Downtown Revitalization Board
- Mike Elliott
- Tyler Law
- Revolving Loan Fund Committee
- Jeff Fisher
- Jay W. Julian
- Freddie Taylor
- John Sellers
- Marc Maxwell
‘I’ll Fly Away’ Spirituals and Gospel Concert June 12, 13 by N E Texas Choral Society
Carol Allen says it is an answer to prayer that this concert came up at just the right time. The collection of spiritual and gospel works was initially intended to comfort, uplift and encourage. And because it was delayed by COVID-19 for a full year, it’s true meaning is even more profound as the community collectively comes out of the shadow of the pandemic.
During her interview on the KSST Good Morning Show with Enola Gay, Director Allen stressed the power which music, especially choral singing, has upon the human ear and heart. Unlike solo singing where attention is on a single voice, the shared singing of a group of voices in ranges of soprano, alto, tenor and bass relays the meaning and tone of lyrics in a totally unique way. “The lyrics are how we tell ourselves who we each are as a believer” stated Carol. The 65-voice North East Texas Choral Society of men and women of all ages has been rehearsing weekly and is now putting the polish on the foundation hymns, gospel songs, sacred praise and rousing spirituals which were prayerfully selected for this concert. Audiences will know many of these. Titles include “My God is a Rock”, “Down to the River to Pray”, “Bound for Glory”, “Guide Me, Oh My Great Jehovah” and many more. Marlon Chisum with the Men’s Chorus will be featured in “I Know I’ve Been Changed”. A medley of “Lean on Me/Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and of course, the hand-clapping “I’ll Fly Away” will be presented for everyone to enjoy. Expect 90 minutes of exciting music with a brief intermission. Purchase tickets from any Choral Society member, at local banks, online at singerscount,org or at the door. There will be two performances only : 7pm on Saturday June 12 and 2pm Sunday June 13, 2021 in the Sulphur Springs High School Auditorium (formerly called the Civic Center auditorium).
Carroll Selected Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, [email protected]
Rylie Carroll, Hopkins County 4-H member, has been selected as a Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador. But first, I want to explain what the Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador program involves. Participation was announced to all high school youth in the spring. Those selected are trained to serve as a community health and wellness leader. They assist County Extension Agents in providing leadership of health programs and projects, focusing on youth audiences, but also assisting with adult programs.
When developed as leaders and utilized to serve and lead based on interest, Healthy Texas Youth Ambassadors are an additional source of outreach and advocacy similar to Master Wellness Volunteers. Some of the events with which Rylie will be assisting include: recruiting Walk Across Texas teams, assisting with the summer day camp program, serving as advocate for health and nutrition at health fairs and back-to-school events, developing and delivering programs for 4-H club meetings, promoting 4-H membership, leading social media efforts on general health topics, marketing events, and more.
Rylie will be attending a special training with other selected Healthy Texas Youth Ambassadors from across the state. They will learn about implementing culinary demonstrations, MyPlate, DanceFit Texas Style (a new physical activity program targeted toward youth), and more. HTYA participants are required to achieve 40 hours of leadership, program efforts, and community service. The ambassadorship is a 12-month commitment, beginning in June, 2021. I look forward to working with Rylie throughout the year. She is an outstanding 4-H member, youth leader, and all around good person!
Multi-County 4-H Camp
This is the last call for 4-H youth who are interested in attending Multi-County 4-H Camp at Lone Star, Texas. Registration forms are available at the Extension Office, or they can be e-mailed. Here are the details:
- When: July 5-7, 2021
- Where: Lakeview Baptist Conference Center, Lone Star
- Cost: $125
- Includes: lodging, meals, workshops, recreation, fun!
Workshops for the 2021 camp are Outdoor Cooking, Leatherwork, Archery, ROPES (zip line), STEM Ricochet, and team activities. There will be a canned foods challenge, as well. Each participant is asked to bring a few canned or non-perishable packaged goods. Each county will build a structure with the items and the structures will be judged. All foods will be donated to a local food bank following the camp.
A list of things to bring and not to bring will be included in the registration materials. Please contact the Extension Office at 903-885-3443 as soon as possible if interested in attending.
Closing Thought
Do the best you can until you know better. Then whey you know better, do better. – Maya Angelou
Contact Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent – Hopkins County at P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Chamber Connection – June 2: Are You Ready For Stewstock 2021?
By Butch Burney, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
It may be June, but plans are already being made for the 52nd World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest on Oct. 23.
The plans include the contest to select the official logo that will go on posters, T-shirts and promotional materials for the contest. The logo contest is now open and will close July 2.
The theme for this year’s stew is Stewstock, borrowing from the Woodstock festival idea. All logo entries should be original and include the theme in some manner.
The winner of the logo contest will receive five T-shirts and five stew tickets, plus a coveted parking pass.
Entries should be in jpg format and emailed to me at [email protected] by Friday, July 2. No late entries will be accepted. The winner will be chosen on July 8. If you have any questions, call me at 903-885-6515 or use the email above.
The Chamber is planning to host a full stew this year, using both the north and south sides of Buford Park. We will include the Friday night appetizer contest and a concert after the Wildcats’ home football game. We are hoping for great weather to have one of the biggest stew contests ever.
Chamber Showcase
The Third Annual Chamber Showcase is still open for vendors. The Showcase is set for Thursday, Aug. 5, at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Booths are available for $60 each and vendors are asked to being a $25 gift or gift card to be given away at random drawings. This is a fantastic networking event and a way for you, as a business owner or representative, to get your name and services out to the public. Only Chamber members can reserve booths for display (the public is invited to attend free of charge), so contact us at the Chamber to find out how your affordable annual membership not only allows you to rent a booth at the Showcase but gives you advantages and opportunities all year long. Come by or call the Chamber office at 903-885-6515 for more information. A registration link is on our website, hopkinschamber.org.
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 will soon be on our website, so be ready to sign up to learn how laws passed (and not passed) by the Texas Legislature will affect your business.
Faire on the Square
A Faire on the Square to help defray medical and travel costs for Kris Cobb is planned for 10 a.m. to 10 pm. Saturday, June 12. There will be plenty of activities for kids and adults, plus a day full of musical guests. There will also be ample opportunities to donate to the Kris Cobb fund.
SSISD Summer Sports Camps Open Tuesday Morning With Baseball, Volleyball and Girls Basketball
Summer Sulphur Springs ISD sports camps got underway at 9 a.m. Tuesday (June 1) as Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack opened his baseball camp for incoming 1st through 3rd graders in the Multi-Purpose Building.
Coach Hammack says he has returned to an all skills approach to camp after several years of concentrating on hitting.
He says he has set up three defensive stations: one for throwing, one for catching fly balls and one for fielding ground balls.
A second session Tuesday morning featured boys entering the 4th through the 9th grades. Coach Hammack says he had 26 campers in the 1st grade through 3rd grade bunch with a good number of the older boys pre registered as well.
He says both groups may represent as many boys as he has had for camp ever.
Meanwhile camp also got underway Tuesday morning for volleyball and girls basketball.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner had about 20 campers in the Auxiliary Gym from 10 A.M. until noon.
Among things the incoming 3rd through 6th grade girls learned were setting and digging.
Next door, in the Main Gym, Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell had 19 campers who will be entering the 3rd through the 6th grades.
Coach Tisdell was very pleased with the turnout.
She says she is focusing on basic skills and fundamentals including dribbling, shooting form and passing. Coach Tisdell says she wants to make the camp a fun experience so she is adding games.
She says many of the young girls are very new to basketball but she adds she has been pleasantly surprised how quickly the girls pick up on things after she tells them the first time.
The three day camps run through Thursday.
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.
Saltillo ISD Top Students Recognized
Saltillo ISD last week recognized the top senior and junior high students during special awards programs, prior to graduation at the end of the week.
Junior High
Ethan Sexton and Michael Gonzalez were recognized as the Saltillo Junior High valeditorian and salutatorian.
Sexton finished at the top of his class with a 95.84375 grade point average and Gonzalez was second with a 95.4375 GPA.
SJH 2021 valedictorian Ethan Sexton is the son of Robert Sexton and Melissa Sexton.
Sexton was involved in both athletic and academic competitions during his time at SJH.
He was on the school basketball and cross country teams. In fact, Sexton said his hobbies include playing games, basketball and occasionally golfing.
Sexton also competed and earned honors in academic UIL competitions. In mathematics, Sexton earned first place individual and team awards; tied for first in chess and was on the first place chess team; earned second place individual honors and was on the first place number sense team; and placed fifth individually and was on the second place maps, graphs and charts team. Sexton also competed in impromptu speaking UIL.
When he completes high school, Sexton plans to go to college with a goal of one day becoming a veterinarian.
Saltillo Junior High 2021 Salutatorian Michael Gonzalez is the son of Miguel and Felipa Gonzalez. He too was involved in sports and academic commpetititions.
Gonzalez participated in athletics, and was first in Little Dribblers in sixth grade. He says his hobbies include basketball, music and video games. He also participated in tether, choir and academic UIL. In seventh grade UIL competition, he placed second individually and was on the first place team in maps, graphs and charts; and placed fifth in number sense and was on the first place math team. Gonzalez also competed in calculator applications.
He also was named Top Reader in sixth grade.
After high school, Gonzalez plans to go to college with a goal of becoming a financial planning and analysis manager.
High School
Anna Reeder and Garrett Tarver were named valedictorian and salutatorian on the Saltillo High School Senior Class of 2021.
Anna Reeder graduated Friday with a 3.91020 grade point average, making her the top student student in he her class., while Garrett Tarver graduated second with a 3.89795 GPA.
Reeder is the daughter of Eric and Mandy Reeder, and sister of Justin Reeder, Alex Wilson and Jonathan Reeder of Pickton. She attended Saltillo ISD the final six years of her formative education.
She has been active in sports, academic and extracurricular activities.
Reeder served as co-captain of the Varsity Basketball Team. In 2018-19 she was named District Offensive Player of the Year; 2019-20 District Co-MVP and All-Region; and in 2020-21 was named District Co-MVP, All-Region, and All-State in basketball.
The Saltillo High School 2021 valedictorian also was involved in FCCLA, Beta Club and Relay for Life. She competed at state in Beta in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Her community service and volunteer work included with the Food Bank, Relay For Life, a canned food drive and Fall Parade.
To attain the top ranking, Reeder said she set very high standards for herself, and frankly hates leaving a project or assignments undone. She also hates leaving the classroom if I does not fully understand what she earned.
Her advice to other students seeking success is to Set such high standards for yourself that even if you don’t reach your goal, you still succeed in some way. Everyone fails at some point in their life, but It’s what you learn from it and how you apply it to your next goal.
“My mom is my biggest role model because she is the strongest woman I know and I hope to become as independent as she is. Another person that inspires me is my brother Justin. He is autistic and has many other mental illnesses and I want to help people that are in the same condition as him,” Reeder said.
Reeder plans to attend Paris Junior College to finish her associate’ in psychology, then transferring to UT Tyler to receive a bachelor’s or master’s in psychology.
“I will be studying to become either a forensic psychologist or a pediatric psychologist. I decided on this career because I have a brother that is autistic and I want to work with people like him,” she said.
Reeder already has many of her basic courses completed. She took advantage of the dual credit English 1 and 2, dual credit Government, dual credit Algebra, dual credit Art, dual credit Mass Communications, American History, Sociology, and Computer Science classes offered while she was in high school, so they would apply toward her college credits as well.
Tarver is the son of Jennifer Tarver of Mount Vernon and Richard Tarver of Como. He attended Saltillo ISD all four years of high school.
In academic UIL, she won first place in district in news writing in 2018 and 2021, and fourth place at regional in news writing in 2019.
He has been very active in sports, school organizations and academic competitions as well, including serving in several leadership roles.
The 2021 Saltillo High School Salutatorian served as Beta Club president during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years and as vice president during the 2018-19 school year; as FCCLA president his senior year, and as vice president and secretary his junior. In Beta, he won first place at state and third place at nationals in black and white photography competition in 2020; and won third place at state in 2020, third in 2019, and second in 2018 in creative writing; and third at state in 2019.
Tarver was on the Varsity Cross Country team from 2018-20, Varsity Track team during the 2019 and 2021 seasons, and Varsity Baseball the last two years. In cross country, The won second place at state in 2020, third at state in 2018 and 2019, and was ranked fourth in nation for small schools in 2020. He won second place at regionals in 2020 and third place in both 2018 and 2019. In track, Tarver won first place at region in the 3200m in 2021 and fourth place at state in 3200m and 1600m in 2021, and second place at region in the 1600m in 2021 and third place at region in the 3200m in 2019.
He too participated in the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Leadership in 2020-21 and was in Boy Scouts from 2014 through this year, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in 2020.
Tarver was especially good in writing and spelling UIL academics events. This year, Tarver tied for third place in headline writing at state; third at in headline writing, fifth in ready writing and seventh in spelling at regional competition; and first in ready writing at district. He also won first place in ready writing in 2019 and and fourth in 2018 at district. He won first place honors in editorial writing in 2018, 2019 and 2021, first place in Spelling and Vocabulary in 2019, second in 2018 and third in 2021.
In addition to all of those activities, Tarver works at Sweet Home Texas Eatery in Mount Vernon, still participates in Boy Scouts as a leader and is involved with First Christian Church of Mckinney.
When asked about his successes, Tarver stated, “Adaptability is important and has helped me succeed, as well as perseverance.” His advice to other students hoping to be successful is to “Make sure to take ‘you’ time. Don’t get so caught up in everything that you don’t relax. You can’t be successful when you’re all stressed out constantly. Look at circumstances from multiple points of view.”
He said many people have impacted him in significant ways, including people from church, school and scouts, who have served as “amazing role models and mentors.”
Tarver plans to attend the University of Oklahoma to study meteorology. He already has already attain several college credits from the dual credit English 1 and 2, Government, Algebra, Art, Mass Communications, and American History classes he took in high school.
“I plan to become a broadcast meteorologist in Texas, specializing in severe storm coverage. The reason I want to do this is not just because I love storms, but because it’s one of the only jobs where I can be wrong more than half the time and not get fired,” Tarver said.
Texas Begins Screening Newborns For Spinal Muscular Atrophy
The Texas Department of State Health Services today adds testing for spinal muscular atrophy to the health screening done for every baby born in Texas. About 1 in 10,000 babies are affected by SMA, and this new screening can detect about 95 percent of all SMA cases before symptoms occur.
SMA is an inherited condition that affects the cells in the spinal cord that signal the muscles to work. Over time, the muscles get weaker and activities such as crawling, walking, sitting up and controlling head movements become more difficult. Severe cases of SMA affect the muscles used for breathing and swallowing and can lead to early death. There is no cure for SMA but there are multiple FDA-approved treatments available that are effective if the condition is diagnosed early.
“Screening all Texas babies for spinal muscular atrophy will help identify more than 40 cases a year,” said DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD. “Early detection will enable people with SMA to get life changing treatment before symptoms develop.”
The Texas Newborn Screening Laboratory tests nearly 800,000 specimens each year for close to 400,000 newborns. A simple heel stick blood sample collected from newborns one to two days after birth and again two weeks later enables testing of every Texas baby for 55 disorders or medical conditions. Finding and treating these disorders early can prevent serious complications, such as growth problems, developmental delays, deafness, blindness, intellectual disabilities, seizures and sudden or early death.
