Overall Enrollment At SSISD Down Slightly 2 Weeks Into 2020-21 Year
Lamar 3rd Graders, SSHS Juniors Have Highest Grade Level Percentages Of Virtual Academy Enrollment
Enrollment was down slightly at Sulphur Springs ISD for the 2020-21 school year, with 4,380 students enrolled at SSISD, attending either face-to-face classes on the district’s 8 campuses or Virtual Academy as of the second week of classes, Sulphur Springs Superintendent Michael Lamb reported this week. That’s 40 fewer students attending this year than during the same time period in 2019.
There are 26 fewer students enrolled at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center; the next biggest change was in the size of the Lamar kindergarten class, according to information provided by Lamb at the Sept. 14 SSISD Board of Trustees meeting.
There are 277 kindergarten students, 321 first graders, 315 second graders and 376 third graders enrolled at the four primary campuses. Of the 1,290 students enrolled at primary campuses, 312 are assigned to Bowie, 335 to Bush, 352 to Lamar and 290 to Travis.
This year, 883 students district-wide enrolled in the Virtual Academy. That’s almost 20 percent of all SSISD students opting for online learning offered due to COVID-19.
Lamar has the highest campus percentage of VA students; 31 percent (109 of the campus’ 352 students) are enrolled in VA. That’s due largely to the fact that 54 percent of the Lamar Primary third grade class is enrolled in Virtual Academy, the largest percent for a single grade level district-wide. That’s 79 out of 147 third graders enrolled at Lamar who are attending VA classes.
Juniors account for the next largest grade level of VA students; 75 of SSISD 11th graders (31 percent) are enrolled in VA. Campus-wide, 260 of the 1,271 students (20 percent) enrolled at Sulphur Springs High School opted for VA learning this year. Only 16 percent of freshmen, 22 percent of sophomores and 21 percent of seniors are enrolled in VA. The smallest grade level of VA students at high school is ninth grade, where only 53 of 335 students (16 percent) are in VA. Only 22 percent (71 of the 322 students) of 10th graders signed up for VA. Twenty-one percent of the senior class signed up for VA, that’s 61 of the 296 students in the 12th grade class attending VA.
Overall, Douglass had 198 students, including 19 percent enrolled in virtual academy. That’s 26 percent of early childhood special education students, 13 percent of Head Start 3, 19 percent of Head Start 4 and 26 percent of prekindergarten students at Douglass are enrolled in VA.
Eighteen percent (56 of 312 students) of Bowie Primary students are enrolled in VA. By grade level, 16 percent of kindergarten students, 15 percent of first graders, 20 percent of second graders and 21 percent of third graders are enrolled in VA.
Barbara Bush Primary also has an 18 percent (59 of 336 students) VA enrollment: 12 percent of kindergarteners, 18 percent of first graders, 22 percent of second graders nad 18 percent of third graders.
Travis Primary’s VA enrollment is 21 percent: 23 percent of kindergarteners, 20 percent of first graders, 22 percent of second graders and 19 percent of third graders.
Sulphur Springs Elementary has 612 students, including 107 VA learners (17 percent.) Overall, that’s 52 of the 304 fourth graders (17 percent) and 55 of the 308 fifth graders (18 percent) at SSES who attend VA.
Sulphur Springs Middle School has 1,009 students this year, including 193 VA students (19 percent). Of the 318 sixth graders, 57 (18 percent) attend VA. Nineteen percent (69 students) of all seventh graders attend VA. At SSMS, 21 percent (67 or 326 students) of eighth graders are VA learners.
Work On Grays Building In Pacific Park Progressing
Work progressed this week on the new Grays Community Center building in Pacific Park, with work for the foundation.
The City of Sulphur Springs Capital Construction Division had finished preparing the pad site for the Grays building by Sept. 1. The soil came from the drainage way just south of Spring Street, behind the pawn shop. This gives the city the added benefit of increased stormwater retention, which should further reduce the threat of flooding on Oak Avenue, where the new Senior Citizens Building is to be located.
The construction manager solicited bids for masonry construction, building concrete and structural steel materials for the new Grays Buildin. At the Sept. 1 meeting, Sulphur Springs City Council approved Sulta Manufacturing’s bid of $60,310 for steel materials, Potts Concrete’s bid of $136,887 for concrete construction, and J&J Masonry’s bid of $39,685 for masonry work
As a cost-saving measure, city staff is performing all dirt work, plumbing and electrical work, and will also construct all sidewalks and on-street parking for the park project, according to City Manager Marc Maxwell.
With the pad work complete, city staff began foundation work yesterday. City crews were out Thursday morning, Sept. 17, measuring and inspecting work started on Wednesday. The overnight and light drizzle Thursday morning wasn’t expected to slow the project any. Drilling of piers at the site could begin as early as Friday, the city staff report.
The Grays Community Center building is one of two voter-approved bond projects. The city received the $3 million in bond proceeds in March for Pacific Park improvements and creation of a new Senior Citizens Activity Center; $1.5 million has been designated toward each project. Sulphur Springs residents in November 2019 voted to allow the city to use up to $200,000 of EDC money for up to 20 years for a 4B purpose, to make payments on the bond. The project has to be finished within 3 years of issuing the bond.
City officials also received notification in Aug. 27 that the City of Sulphur Springs’ application for a $750,000 Parks and Wildlife Department grant to help fund the Pacific Park improvement project has been approved.
The TPWD grant is a matching grant, which means the city will also have to contribute $750,000 – a portion of the bond funding. Combined, that provides $2.25 million for the “rather larger improvement complex” in Pacific Park. The funding will cover all costs of Pacific Park improvements included in the city’s project plan, according to City Manager Marc Maxwell.
The Pacific Park project will include a new Grays Community Building that includes indoor and outdoor areas, three bay roll-up doors. A large covered sports pavilion will be located on the other end of the park. There will be new playgrounds, a lighted walking path, improvements to the splash pad, an outdoor basketball court and new restrooms.
With the building project under way, the city will soon be focused on the design for the rest of the park. Officials have a basic layout for the other park improvements based on information gleaned during a planning charrette. Focus will turn toward plans for the rest of the park, but those likely won’t begin until late winter or early spring.
5 New, 67 Active COVID-19 Cases Reported Sept. 16 For Hopkins County
Hopkins County seemed to be on the headed in the right direction with COVID-19 this week, going 4 days without any new reports of Hopkins County residents testing positive for COVID-19 but news of 7 patient recoveries following the weekend.
The reprieve ended Wednesday, however, when Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management were notified of 5 new lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 cases, increasing the the total number of active COVID-19 cases among Hopkins County residents to 67.
That’s 43 new cases reported so far this month, still one less than the total reported from July 1-16 and 19 less than the total from Aug. 1-16. July closed out with 89 total new cases and a whopping 91 cases were recorded during August.
While there have been on additional recoveries reported in the last 2 days, there were 23 recoveries reported earlier this month. Comparatively, 76 recoveries were reported from Aug. 1-16 and 39 from July 1-16.
Cumulatively since March, 219 of the 286 Hopkins County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered from the virus, HC/SSEM officials reported Sept. 16.
The number of patients reported in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs has continued to increase over the last three days, raising from 2 on Monday, 3 Tuesday and up to 4 on Wednesday.
An additional 62 COVID-19 tests were performed at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Tuesday, increasing the number of tests administered since the free testing was first offered weekly at the Civic Center on Sept. 7 to 442.
Free COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, September 19, 2020, according to Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board Approved 2 Personnel Changes, SHAC Membership
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, in addition to receiving updates on the School Health Advisory Council, also approved 2 personnel changes, the recommended list of SHAC members, and addressed items related to 4-H and the Extension Agents during their regular September meeting. The school board also considered a petition asking the county to abandon or close a portion of County Road 3602.
Personnel Matters
Suphur Springs ISD trustees accepted the resignation of Morgan Mayers as a Title I aide at Barbara Bush Primary.
The school board also approved the recommendation of Corban Jenkins to join the staff at Sulphur Springs High School as a special education aide.
4-H, Extension
Hopkins County 4-H organization was designated as an extracurricular activity, according to 19 Texas Administration Code, Chapter 76.1. That allows 4-H members who participate in off-campus activities to be considered “in attendance” when accompanied by and adjunct staff member.
Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agents Johanna Hicks and Mario Villarino were appointed as adjunct faculty members, able to go with 4-H members to related school approved events. The approval is good from Sept. 1, 2020-June 30, 2021. The agent won’t receive compensation from the school and won’t hold the district responsible for any benefits.
Both agents have the required minimum bachelor’s degree and are eligible for participation in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas stipulated for adjunct faculty. Hicks the family and community health agent, earned a Master’s degree from Tarleton State University. Villarino, the agriculture and natural resources agent, earned a Master’s and PhD from Texas A&M University.
SSISD students in 4-H must complete and return to the Extension Office a Declaration of Eligibility Form for each activity which will require the students to be absent from the school campus during class time. It includes signatures from the parents, extension agent and principal designating that student’s academic eligibility status to miss class.
Road Closure
The SSISD trustees also were asked to consider a request for closure or abandonment of the last 407 feet of County Road 3602, in Dike. If they had no objection, the petitioner asked for a letter of no objection to complete the process of requesting the road closure/abandonment.
According to Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley, the request was made by a property owner who now owns the land on both sides of that section of road. The road dead-ends into their property, on which private family residence are located. The property owner would like to put up a gate across that section of road for privacy of the residences.
In order for a road to be closed or abandoned, the person making the application must follow 8 steps in order to submit the request to the Commissioners Court.
Those steps include getting a petition signed by eight property owners in the same precinct and identifying using Appraisal District records “abutting landowners. Letters must be also be obtained from any emergency district, school district, utility district and the county fire department that would indicate no objections to the road closure. Once all other terms are met the proposal may then be submitted to Hopkins County Commissioners Court for consideration.
SSISD school board at the Sept. 14 meeting authorized the superintendent to execute a letter indicating no objections from the district to the closing or abandonment of that section of land. The district does not have a bus route that would be negatively impacted by the closure of the road.
SHAC Update
The SSISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) met 2 times for school year 2019-2020, SHAC Chairman Veronica Arnold noted in the School Health Advisory Council Activities report.
The committee, along with nurses and counselors of the district, discussed the increasing use of vape pens and vaping. An informational program was observed by two members but due to COVID-19 further discussion and results were not available. It will continue throughout the new school year. The committee will also continue with setting a plan in place to increase
parent awareness on suicide prevention.
The committee updated the Wellness Plan to include diet drinks for a la carte purchases only at the High School level. The Child Nutrition Department filed an extension for the Triennial Assessment requirement of the Local Wellness Policy. It is due by June 30, 2021.
Veronica Arnold served as Committee Chair for the past several years. She will be stepping down and will be replaced by Amy Glenn, a parent with two children in the district. Meeting dates for school year 2020-2021 will be set by Amy Glenn.
The school board approved the SHAC members as recommended. The list submitted for the 2020-21 school year included:
Parents representatives — Amy Glenn, Amy Griggs, Susan Mooney and Kimberly Williams;
SSHS student representatives — Savannah Allen, Kayla Garcia, Matthew Sherman and Jadyn Van Winkle;
Community representatives — Johanna Hicks, Laura Kosub, Adela Martinez, Sylvia Millsap, Robbin Vaughan and Elma Viera;
SSISD representatives — Veronica Arnold, Summer Brooks, Tammy Carrell, Lisa Lantz, Lauren Olvera, Mac Rhoades, Shanna Romero, Dana Sills and Lauren Spataro; and
Ex officio representative — Kristin Monk.
Chris Meltsakos Welcomed As New Orthopedic Surgeon
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Sept. 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Are you an Uninsured Female over 40?
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation wants to help you! The Foundation is offering FREE Mammogram Screenings to uninsured women over 40. Appointments will be Saturday, September 26, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call 903.439.4040 to schedule your appointment.
This is limited to the first 20 women.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- 1 Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- 1 Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16 years-old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Local Services
Orthopedics | Sports Medicine
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital- Sulphur Springs is excited to welcome Dr. Chris Meltsakos, our new Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in Sports Medicine. Dr. Meltsakos is accepting new patients at 103B Medical Circle.
FREE Saturday Walk-In Clinic for school athletes is back! Our Saturday sports clinic will be held every Saturday from 9am to 11am, through November 14. Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the 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.
The CARE Unit: Inpatient Rehabilitation
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Inpatient Rehabilitation provides a comprehensive rehabilitation program of the highest quality in order to improve the functional independence of those we serve. Some of the conditions we treat include amputations, brain
injuries, knee and hip replacements, hip fractures, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries, and stroke. Opened 24/7, we provide around the clock nursing care, three hours of therapy per day, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and social work/discharge planning to return home.
If you believe you or a family member may benefit from an inpatient rehab stay, please contact us at 903.438.4570 for more information.
Dermatology
Dermatology & Skin Cancer Surgery Center will be opening an office in Sulphur Springs and accepting patients under the care of Roxanne Swafford, FNP. She will begin seeing patients on October 1, at 1228 Church St. Suite D. To schedule your appointment, call 972.390.9002 and
select “Option 1”. You may also schedule online at www.mdbarrows.com.
Neurology
Access Physicians MultiSpecialty Clinic is proud to announce the addition of Neurologist Dr. Devanshi Gupta, to the Sulphur Springs outpatient telemedicine clinic. Dr. Gupta is fellowship-trained in Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, and will begin seeing adults (18 years and older) on Mondays weekly starting September 21. To schedule an appointment, please contact their office at 105-III Medical Plaza by calling 903.919.5034.
COVID-19
Experiencing Symptoms? If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing. If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above. If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care: We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill. While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
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
Creation Of Hopkins County Homeland Security Department, CID Trucks Approved
Sheriff’s Investigators Are Getting New Trucks; Chip Seal Bid Rejected
Hopkins County now has a homeland security department, effective Monday, when the Commissioners Court approved reorganization of divisions within the county fire department. Hopkins County Commissioners Court also approved a couple of new CID trucks for the sheriff’s office and considered a bid for chip seal.
Homeland Security Office
Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley asked the Commissioner Court to allow for the creation of the Hopkins County Homeland Security department, a department within the fire department.
Endsley noted the topic had been discussed during budget work sessions. he said there were multiple reasons for the creation of a homeland security office.
Consolidation of multiple departments within HCFD will help streamline the departments under one homeland security umbrella. Endsley noted the fire marshal is already in the environmental enforcement and litter abatement division. Emergency management and the “health department,”which the Local Health Authority falls under, would also be included in the Homeland Security department
It will also make obtaining certain information from other officials easier too. For instance, when the county asks for information about “flood control dams and lakes in the southern part of the county,” county employees are denied that information; they have been told the information is available only to a homeland security department.
Having a Homeland Security department would also allow Hopkins County to apply for grants the county is currently not eligible to seek.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley said it was his understanding one grant the county would able to apply for would be funding to help with disposal of used tires.
Endsley said local officials have reached out to Hunt County officials, who already have a homeland security office, who spent about half a day going over the “ins and outs” in creation of a county homeland security department.
“I feel this opens another door for us for possible grants for the future,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker said.
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved the motion from Barker, seconded by Bartley, to create a county homeland security department.
CID Vehicles
The court was asked to consider approving bids for two new pickup trucks for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office‘s Criminal Investigations Division. Brian Toliver Ford submitted the only bid, for two 2020 Ford-150 4x4s, at a selling price of $33,889 each,or $67,778 for both. The business plans to give HCSO a $15,000 trade-in credit for a 2017 Ford Explorer and a $24,000 trade-in credit for a 2017 F-150. That would leave $28,778 HCSO would owe for both units. HCSO plans to use forfeiture funds for the purchases, Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook told the Commissioners Court.
HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump noted that HCSO receives a government discount, which will allow the department to purchase the vehicles at a discounted rate. When vehicles are traded in HCSO receives wholesale value for the general public.
“That creates less of a gap between the purchase price and the trade in value, in this case, about 36 months. So, if we trade those units in, the idea is that we save money on vehicle maintenance and it should cost us about $8,000-$9,000 to drive each vehicle for 36 months, in theory. We are doing it out of our forfeiture account now, but, in turn will hopefully save the county vehicle maintenance cost,” Crump said.
Doing this should also help keep administrative and CID vehicles “in better condition than what we are used to in the past, which was using old patrol vehicles or seizures that we got from the cases.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley made the motion, which was seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price then unanimously approved by the court, to accept the bid from Toliver for CID trucks.
“This is a big step for us,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted.
Chip Seal Bid
The county also sought and only received one bid for chip sealing for road and bridges, to be provided on an as-needed basis at the request of individual commissioners for their precincts. Scott Paving Inc. submitted the only bid, for $5.54 per square yard, for chip sealing.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker recommended to “go out for rebid,” with a goal of obtaining additional competitive bids.
Aulsbrook noted the county would need to reject the current bid then open the bid process again.
Barker made the motion, which was seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin and unanimously approved by the court, to reject the bid.
Fuel Spill Update
Barker noted the county has still not received any monetary compensation from the fuel company for damages sustained to county roads during cleanup clean-up efforts at Turkey Creek, where a six inch pipeline ruptured on Oct. 3, 2019, causing the diesel to run into the nearby waterway. The pipeline was shut down and mitigation was started to contain the diesel. An earthen dam was constructed downstream to contain the spill 1.7 miles down Turkey Creek, which was mostly dry aside from a few water pockets.
“It’s been almost a year now and we have still not received any funds,” Barker said.
Newsom asked if the matter had been discussed with the county attorney. Barker affirmed she had been in one meeting with officials when the matter was discussed.
Bivins Man Jailed On Firearm Charge
A 64-year-old Bivins man was arrested on a firearm charge Tuesday night near the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs Police Officers Victor Reyna and Francisco Castro stopped a Kia Optima at 9:32 p.m. Sept. 15 on Houston Street at Rosemont Street for no license plate lights. The driver, George Russell McClain, “showed suspicious activity by not knowing where he is going and where he is coming from,” the officers alleged in arrest reports.
McClain reportedly gave officers permission to search the car. A firearm was found in the vehicle.
A computer check showed the man to be a convicted felon. McClain was issued a citation for the equipment violation and was arrested at 9:54 p.m. Sept. 15 on a third-degree felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon charge; the car was impounded.
McClain remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, Sept. 16. Bond on the charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
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.
47th Annual Christmas Joys And Heart Smart Nutrition
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Most people don’t enjoy reading information about health and wellness. My husband always tells me that people would rather be entertained. Perhaps that’s why the Christmas Joys program is so popular, and it’s like pulling teeth to get people to register for the diabetes series. However, this column will provide a little of both – education and something fun!
Let’s talk cholesterol. Several things affect cholesterol levels. Not all factors can be controlled, but individuals can take an active role to lower cholesterol. Here are some risk factors that you CAN control:
- Diet – Foods high in saturated fat, trans fatty acids and cholesterol can make your level go up. Cholesterol in food matters, but saturated fat and trans fats are the main culprit. Cholesterol is found in animal products. A friend and colleague always said, “If it has a mother, it has cholesterol.” Reducing foods with trans fats (found most often in commercial baked goods, hard margarines, some shortenings, and fried foods) can help lower your blood cholesterol. Increasing fiber in the diet can also help.
- Weight – Being overweight tends to increase our cholesterol and is a factor for heart disease. Lose weight to help lower LDL (lousy/bad cholesterol.)
- Physical activity – Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease, but regular physical activity can help raise HDL (happy/good cholesterol.) The goal is 30 minutes most days of the week, if not all days.
- Smoking – Cigarette smoking can increase your risk of heart disease. Vaping has also been shown to cause damage to lungs. When smokers quit, the benefits start adding up. Twenty minutes after quitting, the heart rate and blood pressure drop. Two hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal. Two weeks to three months after quitting, circulation improves and lung function increases. One to nine months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath decrease. One year after quitting, excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. Five to fifteen years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced and ten years after quitting, lung cancer death rate is about hale that of a continuing smoker. (information from Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas)
There are some risk factors that cannot be changed:
- Heredity: High blood cholesterol can run in your family. Your genes, to a certain point, can determine how much cholesterol your body makes naturally.
- Age and gender: As men and women age, cholesterol levels tend to rise. Before menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, women’s LDL levels tend to rise.
So let’s change the things we can, and manage the things we can’t. That being heart smart!
47th Annual Christmas Joys
Calls have already been coming in about the annual Extension Christmas Joys holiday program. COVID-19 has really played havoc on Extension face-to-face programming! However, my volunteers and I have come up with a solution that we think will work! We have located a facility where we can socially distance and offer a third session to accommodate individuals. So, take note of the changes and be sure to call to reserve a seat:
- What: 47th annual Extension Christmas Joys
- When: Monday, Nov. 9, 2020
- Where: ROC (Recreation Outreach Center) 115 Putman St.
- Time: 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
- Cost: $5 for adults and teens
Call 903-885-3443 to reserve a seat. We must have a name and phone number for each reserved seat. Attendance will be limited to 40 per session.
The theme is “What I Really Want for Christmas” and will feature 4 presenters, booklets of all the ideas demonstrated, recipes, goody bags, and door prizes. Now that’s fun!
Closing Thought
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. — Andy Rooney
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B W. Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Lady Cats Volleyball Comes Up Just Short At Greenville In Season Opener, 3-2
The Greenville Lady Lions just squeaked by the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats Volleyball Team, 3-2 in a competitive five-set match that marked the season opener for both teams late Tuesday afternoon, September 15, in Greenville.
The Lady Cats got off to a fine start taking a solid, 25-17 win in set one. Sadie Washburn and Addison Wall were strong at the net in that set.
Then, the Lady Lions rallied back taking the next two sets, 19-25 and 21-25. The Lady Cats seemed to lag behind the Lady Lions for a great deal of the fourth set, before working their way into a 20-20 tie. They evened the match at 2-2 with a 25-22 set four win. Washburn, Brooklyn Burnside and Nylah Lindley all had key kills in the set.
In the drama filled fifth set race to 15, the Lady Cats jumped out to a 5-1 lead, only to see the Lady Lions battle back to tie the set 7-7. The set was also tied at 9-9 and 10-10. The Lady Lions then took four big points and were able to close out the match with a 15-11 set five win.
The Lady Cats are 0-1 for the season. They play next on Friday at Frisco Heritage. The Lady Cats’ home opener will take place Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. as Paris comes to town.
Free COVID-19 Testing Offered At Civic Center
Free COVID-19 testing is offered at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, September 19, 2020, according to Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials.
Since testing resumed at the Civic Center on Sept. 7, 380 tests have been performed at the Civic Center. The tests are molecular swab tests.
Symptoms or direct exposure are not required for testing. Children can be tested, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration for testing is conducted online at GoGetTested.com. Scroll down to register.
All available free testing sites, including the Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, are listed on the website by location, along with the number of tests available for a given day, along with the estimated wait times in line upon arrival and for return of test results. As of Tuesday afternoon, the average turnaround time from testing to results was about 1 1/2 days (35.4 hours).
The HC/SSEM reported there were no new positive cases of COVID-19 reported for Hopkins County on Sept. 15, so the active case count remains 62. So far this month, there have been 38 new cases.
There also were no additional recoveries reported on Sept. 15, only 23 recoveries reported earlier this month. Overall, 219 of the 281 Hopkins County residents who have had a lab-confirmed test result since mid-March have recovered from COVID-19.
There were three patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, one more than on Monday, Sept. 14. County officials last week reported CARES Act funding funneled through the county was used for the purchase of two additional ventilators and a testing machine for the hospital.
According to the Sept. 15 Texas Health and Human Services report, two employees at Carriage House Manor continued to have COVID-19 on Sept. 1, the most recent data available. No residents at any of the Sulphur Springs nursing home facilities had tested positive for COVID-19 from March-Sept. 1.
There were no active COVID-19 cases in either employees or residents reported at Sulphur Springs assisted living facilities as of Sept. 1, according to the Sept. 15 HHS report.
No active COVID-19 cases were reported Sept. 14 at Sulphur Springs child care centers, according to the Sept. 15 HHS report.
