Man Jailed In South Carolina On Hopkins County Warrant
A 53-year-old was jailed in South Carolina on an outstanding Hopkins County warrant, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina resident was in custody in Charleston County, South Carolina. HCSO Deputy Amanda Weatherford traveled to South Carolina, took custody of Matthew Roy Person at 6:11 p.m. Feb. 24.
Weatherford transported him to Hopkins County jail, where Person was booked at 6:39 p.m. Feb. 24 on the outstanding charge of insufficient bond on a unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. The offense, according to arrest reports, occurred at 3:30 a.m. Jan. 14, 2021. Person remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Feb. 26, 20201, according to jail rpeorts.
Person, of Illinois at the time, was arrested by a state trooper on May 2, 2020 on the original unauthorized use of vehicle charge. The trooper spotted him driving a Jeep Wrangler confirmed to be one that’d been reported to Dallas Police Department as stolen. Person allegedly gave conflicting accounts of how he came into possession of the vehicle and could not provide any rental paperwork associated with the Jeep, the trooper alleged in the 2020 arrest report. Person was released from Hopkins County jail the next day on a $5,000 bond on the stolen vehicle charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
As Lightning Flashes, the Wildcats Soccer Team Gets Solid Home Win Over Hallsville at The Prim
Between lightning strikes and weather delays, the Wildcats Soccer Team managed to get a solid, 5-0 win over Hallsville at Gerald Prim Stadium Thursday night. Edgar Salazar scored two unassisted first half goals to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead at halftime. The Wildcats scored three times in the second half. Uriel Santacruz scored the game’s third goal and Omar Hernandez added the last two. One was on a free kick and the other was assisted by Joel Pasion. When nearby lightning struck for the second time, officials suspended the game with 17:30 left in the second half.
Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton said the Wildcats played a really solid game adding they dominated the contest.
The Wildcats end the first half of district play with a record of 3-3. They improved their season record to 12-7-1.
The Wildcats travel to Longview Saturday to begin the second half of district play. The JV game is scheduled for noon Saturday with the Varsity game at 1:30 p.m. in Longview. The Lobos won 1-0 at The Prim back on January 29.
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.
Wildcats Baseball Team Opens the Season with Loss to Host Tyler Legacy at Rose City Classic Thursday
There are bound to be better days for the Wildcats Baseball Team. Thursday, Feb. 25 the Wildcats opened the regular season with an 11-1 loss to host Tyler Legacy on day one of the 30th annual Rose City Classic at Mike Carter Field in Tyler. The game was halted in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the ten run rule. Legacy outhit the Wildcats 12-6. Neither team made an error.
Hayden Hurst took the pitching loss for the Wildcats going 4 innings allowing 9 hits and 8 runs while striking out 3 and walking 4. Hector Martinez went 2/3’s of an inning in the bottom of the fifth allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 1 strike out and 2 walks. For the Wildcats, Kaden Wallace was 2 for 3 with a double. Ty Stroud was 1 for 1 with a double and a walk. Blake Vice was 1 for 2. Aiken Owens was 1 for 2 with a run scored. Colt Silman was 1 for 2. Dawson Carpenter drew a walk.
The Wildcats, 0-1 for the season, will play two more tournament games back to back on Friday. The Wildcats face Lindale at 2 P.M. and then Tyler Legacy at 4 P.M. with both games at Mike Carter Field.
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 Team Splits Two Games in Allen Tournament Thursday
The Lady Cats Softball Team suffered both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat on day one of the Allen Varsity Tournament Thursday, Feb. 25.
The Lady Cats opened with a 12-2 loss to Rockwall. The Lady Cats built a 2-0 lead through the first two innings only to see the Lady Yellowjackets score 12 runs in the top of the third. The game went four innings. Rockwall outhit the Lady Cats 9-3. The Lady Cats had the games only error. Crimson Bryant took the pitching loss going the first 2 1/3 innings giving up 3 hits and 4 runs while striking out 4 and walking 2. Addison Caddell came in in relief and went 1 2/3 innings allowing 6 hits and 8 runs while striking out 1 and walking 5. Matti Smith was 1 for 1 with a double, a run scored and a walk. Nylah Lindley was 1-2 with an RBI and a stolen base. Caddell was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Nicole Higgins walked twice, scored a run and stole a base.
The Lady Cats just held on in the bottom of the fourth inning to edge by Sherman, 10-9 in their second game of the day at the tournament. Both teams had 9 hits and both teams had 3 errors. Caddell got the pitching win going all 4 innings allowing 9 hits and 7 earned runs while striking out 9 and walking 3. Lindley had a big game with the bat going 2 for 3 with a home run, 3 RBIs and scoring 2 runs. Addison DeSmet was 2 for 2 with a run scored and 2 stolen bases. Higgins was 1-2 with a RBI, 2 runs scored with a walk and a stolen base. Matti Smith was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Jadyn Harper was 1 for 2 with a double, 2 runs scored and a walk. Braylea Brewer had an RBI. Caddell was 1 for 2 with a walk. Grace Magnuson was 1 for 2. Kinley Friddle scored 2 runs and Hannah Sells scored 1. The Lady Cats are now 2-1 for the season. They continue play in the Allen Tournament Friday as they face John Paul II at 1 P.M. at the Allen Station #4 field.
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 Basketball Cruises Past Midway to Advance to Quarterfinal Playoff
The Saltillo Lions Basketball team never faltered in the Area round of playoffs, cruising to a big win over Midway, 65-44 on Thursday, Feb. 25.
The Lions led 15-6 over Midway, and continued their dominance into halftime, as they led the Panthers 32-23 going in to the second half. Saltillo out-scored Midway in every quarter except the second, as both teams scored 17. From there, though, it was all Lions, all the time, as Saltillo outscored the Panthers 22-11 in the third quarter, taking a commanding 54-32 lead going into the final quarter of play. Midway did what they could to chip in to the Lions lead, but the damage was already done, as Saltillo bested the Midway Panthers 65-44 to advance to the Quarterfinals of 1A Regions 3&4 playoff basketball.
With the win, the Saltillo Lions record is now 20-7 (11-0 district).
Chris Boekhorst led the Lions Thursday with 21 points. David Whitworth had 18 points, Coy Collins scored 12 points, Andrew Redburn added 5 points and Colby McCoy and Gunner Tarver rounded out the scoring for the Lions with 3 points a piece.
Next up, the Saltillo Lions basketball team will travel out to Bells High School on Saturday, Feb. 27 to take on Slidell in the Quarterfinals of 1A playoff basketball. the Greyhounds were victors of 1A District 22 during the regular season.
CTE Month Feature 4: Automotive Technology
February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month, KSST’s high school interns have compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. One will be featured each week during CTE Month.
Automotive Technology
KSST intern Jamie Cervantes interviewed automotive technology teacher Michael Rhodes about the automotive tech program at SSHS. Rhodes is a new teacher at SSHS this year, but not new to teaching nor to automotive repair as he has past experience with both.
In this program, students learn a little bit of everything, from the basics of tools in an auto shop to engine and suspension diagnostics and repair. The course includes a lot of hands-on work and does require critical thinking. Rhodes works to incorporate topics from core courses to better show students their practical use in real life scenarios. This course is a great stepping stone for students interested in a career in the automotive industry which ranges from oil and tire technician to master technician, automotive engineering, service technician and after market OEM manufacturers.
This program offers students the opportunity to compete in Skills USA events for not only experience and recognition by their peers, but also opportunities to earn scholarships. In the last 5 years, he’s had four champions in his classes.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these weekly CTE features. If you missed the first two, be sure to the check them out at the links below:
Week 1: Interior Design Class – Architecture Program
Week 2: Design and Multimedia Arts Program – Graphic Design I and Advanced Graphic Design
Week 1: Interior Design Class – Architecture Program
Week 2: Design and Multimedia Arts Program – Graphic Design I and Advanced Graphic Design
Also, check out the mayoral proclamation of February as CTE Month in Sulphur Springs and Sharing CTE With Rotary Club
Pickton Man Sentenced On 5 Indecency With A Child Cases
8 Others Also Sentenced in District Court This Week
A 35-year-old Pickton man was sentenced on five indecency with a child cases during a hearing conducted in the 8th Judicial District Court. One man was sentenced on a fraud charge and another on a theft of firearm charge. Six others appeared in court for controlled substance offenses. Another man is scheduled for a future sentencing hearing on a theft charge.
Noe Negrete received 20 years on one count of indecency with a child cases and 10 years on the other four cases. The 20-year sentence is to be served consecutively with the 10-year sentences, which are to run concurrently. This essentially results in a sentence of 30 years, meaning that the defendant will become eligible for parole in 15 years, according to the District Attorney’s office.
Negrete also was fined $5,000 per case. As a result of the convictions, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
He was arrested Feb. 27, 2020 at his residence on one warrant for indecency with a child by sexual contact and released the next day on a $50,000 bond, according to arrest and jail reports.
Tyler Gerard Maloney appeared in court Feb. 24 on a theft of firearm charge. He made arrangements to plead guilty as part of an agreement, which the judge approved. Maloney was sentenced to 5 years of deferred adjudication, to pay $550 in restitution to the complainant in the case and assessed a 1,000 fine.
Sheriff’s officers received information pointing to Tyler Gerard Maloney as the suspect in a firearm theft from a residential property in that area,. Based on evidence gathered, investigators sought and obtained a warrant for Maloney’s arrest. Deputies contacted Maloney at his residence and took the 23-year-old into custody at 4 p.m. May 19 on a theft of firearm warrant, according to jail and arrest reports. The offense is alleged to have occurred on May 6, according to court records.
Brian Eugene Griffis plead guilty in the district court Feb. 24 to fraudulent use/possession ID info. He was sentenced to 18 months in a state jail.
The offenses is alleged to have occurred on Oct. 12, 2019. He has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest on Aug. 31, 2020, according to jail reports.
Joshua A. Case arranged to plead guilty before the court to an Oct. 9, 2019 prohibited substance or item in a correctional, civic or community facility and a June 3, 2019 abandoning or endangering of a child – criminal neglect. Case received a 5 year deferred sentence and a $1,000 fine on the prohibited substance case. While acknowledging the child endangerment-criminal neglect case, as part of a 12.45 agreement that charge was dismissed, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Case was arrested on May 9, 2019 by Cumby police for no driver’s license following a traffic stop. Upon arrival at the jail, a baggy containing a clear crystal-like substance officers believed to be 0.75 gram methamphetamine was reportedly found in the 19-year-old’s boot, resulting in the prohibited substance in a correctional facility charge, according to arrest reports. He was released from Hopkins County jail 9 days later on a $10,000 bond on the prohibited substance charge, according to jail reports.
The Cumby man was also arrested July 15, 2019 at his residence on a warrant for abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence, according to arrest reports. He was released from the county jail the next day on a $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Billy Dale Elkins was scheduled Feb. 24 to appear in court to plead guilty to an Oct. 24, 2019 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and a Sept. 21, 2020 bail jumping/failure to appear charge. He was sentenced to 126 days in the county jail as part of a 12.44 agreement reducing the charge and a 12.45 agreement the failure to appear charge was dismissed. Elkins was given credit for time served.
Elkins was arrested by a sheriff’s deputy who reported finding 0.3 gram of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine in a cigarette wrapper in a cup holder in the van the then-37-year-old Fort Worth man was driving when stopped for speeding on Oct. 24, 2019. He remained in jail until Nov. 11, 2019 on the controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Elkins was arrested on Nov. 10, 2020 on the bail jumping failure to appear warrant. He remained in Hopkins County jail until Feb. 24, 2021, according to jail reports.
Lacey Michelle Blevins plead guilty to a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
Deputies stopped Blevins on June 25, 2019 and took her into custody after allegedly finding narcotics and drug paraphernalia in a bag under her seat. She allegedly attempted to discard a syringe which she’d had on her upon arrival at the jail; the cap was found in the seat of the deputies patrol car. While being processed into jail, Blevins was also allegedly found to be in possession of a baggy with less than 1 gram of a substance that field-tested positive as cocaine inside of her walking cast. Hence the controlled substance charge.
Blevins was sentenced to 1 day in the county jail as part of a 12.44(b) agreement. She was given credit for time served on the charge, according to the DA’s office.
Casey Delayne Tucker appeared in district court as scheduled Feb. 24 on two manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance 1-4 grams PG1 charges. She plead guilty, as part of a 12.45 agreement, and received a 10 year deferred sentence as well as a $1,000 fine and will be required to participate in a drug rehab program as a condition of probation on one case.
She was arrested on a warrant for the alleged Sept. 10, 2019 offenses following a 2-month investigation by SUC officers in which undercover controlled substance buys were made, including purchase of 2.8 grams and 3.4 grams of methamphetamine, officers alleged in 2019 arrest reports.
Jason Anthony Alkire was accused of two counts of possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. As part of a 12.45 agreement Alkire received a 10 year deferred sentence, a $1,000 fine, and a drug rehab program as a condition of probation on one case.
The offenses occurred on March 25, 2019 and May 9, 2019. Alkire was taken into custody in March 2019 for trespassing at Walmart; a syringe loaded with a clear, liquid substance which later tested positive for methamphetamine was alleged found in the 35-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s clothing while he being booked into jail. In May 2019, Alkire was in a pickup stopped for not having a license plate; contraband was found at the rear of the truck and suspected methamphetamine was found on the ground, officers alleged in arrest reports.
Madeline Lee Walker plead guilty in district court Feb. 24 on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She received a 7 year deferred sentence and a $1,000 fine. The offense reportedly occurred on Aug. 6, 2020, according to court records.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
* Updated: Tira News – Winter Weather A Fun Time For Sledding, Building Snowmen, Bird-Watching
By Jan Vaughn
What a change between last week and this! Tira was extra beautiful with a blanket of snow last week. Lots of fun was had with “sledding” on make-shift sleds, building snowmen, and throwing snowballs. For others of us, it was great bird-watching weather!
The quarterly Tira City Council meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, March 1, 2021 at the Tira Community Center. However, the meeting has now been rescheduled to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
We continue to receive generous donations for the Tira Food Pantry. We always appreciate the contributions and are thankful for everyone who helps make it possible for us to provide some food for those in need.
Linda Ellen Vaughn of Dallas spent last weekend with Chip, Grace and me. On Sunday, we celebrated Chip’s birthday with cake and ice cream. His birthday was on Monday, so I made a special dinner for him that night, too.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Sharing CTE With Rotary Club
Sulphur Springs High School Career & Technical Education students presented to the Rotary Club on Thursday, February, 25, a summary of their CTE organizations and their accomplishments, as part of their CTE Month celebration and awareness programs.
Speakers this year included:
- Makayla Pullen representing Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- Jillian Jumper representing Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
- Cash Vititow and Camry Atkins representing FFA
- Harley Speed and Bailey Burnet representing Future Health Professionals (BPA)
- Hallie Boykin representing SkillsUSA
- Joseline Arenas representing Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)
- Rayden McCormack representing National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)
February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.
To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month, KSST’s high school interns have compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. One will be featured each week during CTE Month.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these weekly or any other CTE features. If you missed any, be sure to the check them out at the links below:
Week 1: Interior Design Class – Architecture Program
Week 2: Design and Multimedia Arts Program – Graphic Design I and Advanced Graphic Design
Also, check out the nayoral proclamation of February as CTE Month in Sulphur Springs.
A Modern Day Dr. Dolittle
A low mechanical buzz fills the air as Dr. Denise Fowler inserts a long pole with a flat-tipped grinder into the large white gelding’s mouth. The sedated horse blinks lazily as Fowler and her team brush and grind his teeth. As she files off the sharp edges and cleans his teeth, a new smell emanates from the horse’s mouth, it’s as if someone’s opened a fresh bag of Doritos mixed with the smell of fresh hay.
Dr. Fowler pauses her work and puts a hand inside the horse’s mouth to check for sharp edges. She reaches in nearly to her elbow before she begins grinding again.
“You know what sounds good for lunch?” Dr. Fowler asks her vet technicians.
The young women glance between each other and shrug.
“What’s that, Doc?” Roneyce, one of Fowler’s senior vet techs asks.
“Pho, and some eggrolls,” Dr. Fowler says with a smile.
She’s on a small farm, roughly an hour away from her clinic, performing routine osteopathic exams on two horses. Part of the routine exam is checking and filing the horse’s teeth, a process known in the veterinary world as “floating.” Left unchecked, Fowler explained, a horse’s teeth could cause problems, because their teeth naturally have uneven wear.
The morning is chilly, and a light drizzling rain is falling. The rain’s rhythmic tapping on the barn’s tin roof echoes slightly in the six-horse barn. Dr. Fowler’s regular clients are spread out across North Texas, because she is one of the few veterinarians familiar with less-common practices like osteopathy as well as traditional Chinese methods. Some of the farmers near the clinic may be distrustful of her less-conventional practices.
“I think the biggest part is taking the time to listen to the client and their concerns, and acknowledging that these animals are like family members,” Fowler said.
Fowler looks young for 41, with wavy chestnut colored hair and youthful skin. She wears a black vest over her traditional red scrubs as an attempt to stay warm in the cool barn. Her hazel eyes hold a wisdom that comes from her years of experience as a veterinarian. Her practice, Sulphur River Vet Clinic, is the only veterinary office within a 50-mile radius that offers traditional medicinal herbs and practices like acupuncture and osteopathy, in addition to pharmaceuticals.
After floating, Fowler examines the horses’ joints, muscles, and bones, looking for any irregularity.
His neck is tight, so she pops it using a chiropractic method. She circles his head with her arms, giving him a hug, her fists resting at the base of his skull. She squats, and there’s a quiet, yet satisfying pop.
***
Fowler’s love of horses stems from her childhood. Raised in Richardson, Texas, Fowler was eight years old when a friend introduced her to horseback riding. English riding is the most common equestrian discipline in the Dallas area, and Fowler eventually began to compete, balancing her riding along with her academic work and soccer.
“She got on that horse and it looked like she belonged on it,” Fowler’s mother commented.
“I’ve had horses ever since,” Fowler admitted.
Another influence in her life was reading James Herriot books about veterinary medicine. Her mother encouraged her love for science and pushed Fowler to own her own business. Fowler said she decided at a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian.
In veterinarian school, everyone endures the same training. In undergrad, Fowler worked for the late Dr. Norris in Sulphur Springs. Norris practiced acupuncture and dentistry and taught Fowler some of his practices. She graduated in 2005 from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her Aggie pride is evident from the familiar maroon-colored scrubs that she and her staff wear.
After vet school, Dr. Fowler knew she wanted to continue her studies of acupuncture to expand her depth in treatment protocols. She also added Chinese and Western herbs to her knowledge base. She studied these practices and refined her skills at the Chi Institute of Veterinary Chinese Medicine in Florida in 2006.
“I realized pretty quick that I was going to need to do chiropractic training. You can get a lot done with acupuncture and herbs, but sometimes you just need to ‘pop’ them or adjust them,” Fowler explained.
At a veterinary conference, Fowler ran into a friend, who’s also a vet. She suggested studying osteopathy at the Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy and Education in San Marcos.
“I was like, what the heck is that?” Fowler joked, remembering her initial introduction to the skill before deciding to attend.
Osteopathy deals with connection between the muscles and skeleton system in the body. This is different than chiropractic techniques because chiropractors work mostly with spinal adjustments. Acupuncture is different from both, using needles and providing a form of local anesthesia relief.
In 2010, Dr. Fowler and her husband decided to settle near his hometown of Commerce, Texas. She was eight months pregnant when she started her own business out of a trailer house. Her focus was on having consistent clients, and she predominantly performed farm visits.
“I had my baby, and we put her in the truck, and started doing calls,” Fowler said.
Now, just 10 years later, not only has Dr. Fowler expanded her clientele, but she’s also managed to open an actual clinic near Commerce. Fowler still consistently makes farm visits, but finds it’s nice to have a space that clients can visit, bring smaller pets for evaluations, and a place where she can store herbal remedies and house necessary x-ray and other large equipment.
“You start with nothing, and it’s just hard to build that up. You have to have a lot of money and a lot of trust in God to bring the pieces together to help you, you know, get that money going and out of nowhere and be able to make the payments,” Fowler said.
One of the challenges that comes with owning your own business and having a country practice is financing. Fowler noted the cost for running a clinic was one that her clients often don’t consider.
The overhead of having a building, and taxes, ordering equipment and medicines, paying phone bills, and licensing and dues – it all adds up. Many customers have a hard time understanding why veterinary bills can sometimes be expensive. Fowler recognizes that clients in the area also struggle financially, and she does her best to offer medicines or herbs that might be cheaper alternatives.
“We were skeptical at first, but have come to appreciate Dr. Fowler and her holistic approach to animal health,” Laura Owens said.
Owens, a client of Dr. Fowler’s, has two aging horses and a donkey. She’s tried different supplements and herbs for their oldest gelding who’s been struggling with weight and thyroid problems. Under Fowler’s care, she’s seen an improvement in her horse’s agility and temperament.
“Now we just need to get him to lose a couple of pounds,” Owens joked.
***
Fowler has found it’s all about balance. Using alternative medicine, chiropractics, and acupuncture, both herbs and pharmaceuticals allows her a wider range of potential treatments to address problems. As Fowler put it, pharmaceutical drugs only tackle one issue, while herbs can help multiple problems.
In addition to keeping up with the traditional medicines, Fowler still needs to stay on the forefront of surgical procedures, and newest techniques available for diagnostics.
The research is there to back her up.
According to a 2019 study published by the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, the findings supported the positive therapeutic role of Chinese herbal medicine in the rescue treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD) and emphasized a field of research with potential for growth and development.
A second study, published by the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, revealed that horses treated with laser acupuncture before a stressful event, like racing, had a statistically significant smaller heart rate increase than those treated with western medicines.
The success of both studies, in addition to Fowler’s personal success with traditional methods, is not only encouraging but provides a gateway for more research studies to examine the effectiveness of such treatments.
One of the most commonly used and prescribed herbal medicine is Shi Quan Da Bu Tang or the All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction. This is a tonic herbal formula that treats general deficiency and weakness from injury, surgery, or chronic illness, and is also popular as a geriatric tonic. This medicine is frequently used in cancer treatments for humans and animals and promotes wound healing in animals with poor immune functions.
Dr. Fowler had a client whose dog had severe tumors all over, and she prescribed a product called Max’s formula. The formula helped the dog: improving his ability to move and slowing new tumor growth. But Fowler stressed that every case is unique.
“You may see three or four coughs in a row and every single cough is going to be different,” Fowler said.
Making the right diagnosis is paramount. Fowler stressed the importance of continuous learning. Figuring out what works best for one animal may not always work for another. Fowler noted that veterinarians ultimately must learn to trust their own intuition when it comes to helping each pet.
***
Next is his hindquarters. They’ve shifted, causing him to walk unevenly. It’s as if Fowler can tell this isn’t comfortable for the horse, and ultimately needs to be adjusted. Fowler holds her arms straight out, resting on either side of the gelding’s hips, visualizing the spot she wants to shift.
“Do you want me to do this one?” One of her vet students, Emma asks, reaching for the back-left leg of the white gelding.
Fowler grins, excited to share her knowledge with her mentees.
“Yeah! You’re going to pull it towards you and lift it up.” Dr. Fowler says.
Emma follows the instructions, and Fowler nods in approval. Fowler steps back to recheck the horse’s hips. She frowns, squinting at the horse’s hips.
One hand rests on his side, the other used to pull the opposite hip towards her. It takes a few tries to push the geldings’ hips back into alignment, but finally Dr. Fowler nods. A victorious smile spreads across her face, and she pats the horse’s back lightly for a job well done.
Fowler considers many opportunities in both her clinic and on house calls as teachable moments to share her veterinary knowledge with her all-female staff. Cultivating an all-female staff is something near and dear to Fowler’s heart. She wants to ensure her vet techs and student workers benefit under her mentorship; something Fowler never really had starting out.
“Most of my mentors were older men.” Fowler said.
She explained the difficulty of balancing being a mother, wife, and veterinarian.
“I think for a lot of men it’s hard for them to get that perspective.” Dr. Fowler continues. “Females should have a mentor to try to learn under; another female vet that has a similar situation to how they want to mold their life.”
Fowler strives to have a life worth molding. Dr. Fowler’s office houses a basket of small plastic horses and children’s toys for her young daughter, Maggie, who frequently visits the clinic. A daughter who takes after her mother with a love of horses.
Dr. Fowler smiles at a photo on her wall of Maggie and Fowler’s husband. Fowler has continued her love of riding by competing with her daughter in pony and dressage shows. She believes her background in veterinary medicine helps her as a rider to ride correctly, not impede on the horses. It appears the horse enjoys riding as much as she does.
The COVID pandemic has cancelled some tournaments and caused others to increase their regulations. But the pandemic won’t stop Fowler from riding horses anytime soon.
However, there have been other challenges with the pandemic. Dr. Fowler found herself in need of more staff members after one assistant contracted COVID and others were isolating. It was just Fowler, the secretary, and one vet tech. So, she hired a few more female vet students to add to her crew. COVID has also caused the staff to increase safety practices around the clinic such as wearing masks, social distancing with clients, as well as offering curbside services.
“The first week of COVID, there was absolutely nothing,” Fowler said. “And then the second week, the phone started ringing and it hasn’t stopped.”
Dr. Fowler smiles as she takes a brief break to eat some soup for lunch, watching her clinic in motion. Technicians bustle about: checking on dogs and researching medicines, and even animal travel laws. She doesn’t get a lot of breaks, but from the glint in her eye you can tell it doesn’t matter, because she loves what she does.
She has a unique ability to understand her clients’ needs and provide insight into the animals’ feelings.
“I think as a veterinarian, you want to be perfect.” Fowler continued. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”
And Fowler is not faint of heart.
Citations: Beebe, S. E. (2019). Cantwell, S. L. (2010). Google Maps. (2020). Jing Ying Chan, M. (2019). What is equine osteopathy? (2017, June 17). Ying, W., Bhattacharjee, A., & Wu, S. S. (2019).
