Saltillo ISD Announces Top Students of 8th Grade Class
Cristian Trejo is the Valedictorian of the 8th Grade Class of 2020 at Saltillo ISD. He is the son of Fransisca Trejo and Ramiro Moreno. Cristian’s favorite subjects are Math and Science, and he enjoys playing basketball. During the 2019/2020 school year, he earned 1st Place in UIL Chess, Math and Number Sense, and Maintained the 3rd highest average in Math. He also earned a position on the UIL 2nd Place Team in Maps, Charts and Graphs. During the year, he also earned several medals in Cross Country. Cristian maintained a spot on the A Honor Roll during his 8th Grade year, and was voted Class Favorite in 7th grade.
Cason David Carmody is the Salutatorian of the 8th Grade Class of 2020 at Saltillo ISD. His favorite subjects are Math, Science and English. During his 8th grade year, Cason was involved in UIL, the Gifted and Talented program and A Honor Roll. In UIL competition, he placed 4th in Number Sense and was on the 1st Place Team. He also placed 2nd in Mathematics and was on the 1st Place Team. During the 8th grade, Cason had the 3rd highest average in Math. His hobbies and interests include blacksmith and metal work, gaming, long boarding and historical knowledge. Cason is the son of Steve and Kelly Carmody.
Chamber Connection — May 28, 2020
Annual Chamber Of Commerce Golf Tournament Registration Is In Full Swing
The Chamber is excited to announce that we are moving forward with our annual Golf Tournament! Our reschedule date is Friday, June 19, at Sulphur Springs Country Club. As usual, we will have morning and afternoon flights, and we have availability for teams right now.
This tournament will look different in a few ways. … We will spend the day completely outside, we will wash our hands often and well, lunch will be picked up in a box instead of being on a buffet, and all team members and volunteers will “Spend the Day a Club’s Length Away!” That will be our social distancing motto to keep everyone safe and healthy! We are looking forward to beautiful weather and a great time! Give us a call at 903-885-6515 to register your team!
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week.
Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for May 28, Shannon Oaks Church. You can read their full biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram
page.
Choosing Relaxation Over Stress
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
I had a particularly stressful week with work-related and extraneous issues. Many people are experiencing difficulties during these unusual times that may seem overwhelming. How do you deal with the unavoidable stress of life?
Dr. Robert Jeffress provides daily inspirationals and one particularly hit home for me. Titled “The Foundation for Choosing Relaxation Over Stress”, he stressed spending some time every day doing something you enjoy. If you want to get through a stressful day, make sure you have programmed into your day some time to do something to look forward to – a hobby, a sport, reading a book, watching a television program, baking, etc. Just knowing that you are going to get to spend a few minutes doing something you want to do can help relieve the stress of the day.
There needs to be that time every day in your schedule–it might be seven o’clock at night, or it might be later–that is a finish time. This is when you say, “Maybe I haven’t washed every dish, I haven’t cleaned every garment, and I haven’t made every phone call or written every email that needs to be written, but I’ve hit the finish line for today, and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. Now I’m going to do something I enjoy.”
Most importantly, how do you choose relaxation over stress? How we begin our day and how we end our day governs our stress level throughout the day. For me, automatically waking up in the wee morning hours (just for the record, I am NOT a morning person!) has proved to be my best time to pray – for family, friends, our nation. I don’t get out of bed – I simply pray. It’s a quiet time, with no distractions. When I wake up a few hours later, I’m ready to face the day. Yes, I still have stressors that come my way, but realizing that I have a choice in handling that stress makes all the difference.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension also offers suggestions.
- Take care of yourself — This approach will help you cope with the stressors. Eat healthful foods, get plenty of rest, take some time to relax each day and know your personal limits.
- Seek support — Reaching out to people allows you to talk with others about the experience. Seek out individuals you trust, and spend time with family and friends.
- Maintain routines — If possible, stick with your normal routine. This can help provide a sense of normalcy as well as help you maintain your usual social contacts at school, work or other places you usually go every day.
- Engage in physical activity — Physical activity can be an excellent stress reliever for many people – Walking, cleaning a closet, working in the yard or garden.
- Limit exposure to news coverage. It is normal to want to stay updated. However, you may be able to lessen your feelings of distress by limiting the amount of time you spend watching or listening to media coverage of an event.
- Seek trusted sources of information. Information may come from the Centers for Disease Control, local government officials or from your family doctor. For the most accurate information, search sites maintained by local, state or federal governmental agencies.
- Avoid using drugs and alcohol. Such substances only provide a temporary “numbing” of feelings from distress and can lead to additional problems.
- Be understanding of yourself and others. You may need to be more patient than usual with coworkers, family members or children.
And remember, “This, too, shall pass.”
Fourth New COVID-19 Case Reported For Hopkins County Tuesday Evening
Hopkins County Has Had 21 Total Cases
For the second time Tuesday, Hopkins County Emergency Management Team announced another COVID-19 case in Hopkins County, that’s the fourth new COVID-19 case announced Tuesday. That brings the total of COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County to 21 since mid-March.
County Judge Robert Newsom, at 4 p.m. today, reported the county had three new COVID-19 cases. At 8:30 p.m., the county judge reported one additional COVID-19 case, for a total of four new cases on May 26. That’s 17 new cases of COVID-19 in Hopkins County since May 1.
“We seem to be in a surge, not compared to our neighbors in other counties. Ours is minuscule compared to theirs. This is the fourth case today, reported by the Department of Emergency Management,” Newsom said.
Three of the new cases were reported to be in the county and one in the city, according to the emergency management officials.
The Local Health Authority will be reaching out to those new patients today and tomorrow, as well as checking in on all of the active cases, Newsom reported.
Newsom noted that makes 21 total cases in out county, which had a population of more than 37,000.
“We knew there would be time we’d have to face this. Thank God there have been no deaths at this point. To my knowledge, none are in the hospital,” Newsom said.
Earlier in the day, Newsom reported that among the first 3 cases today are patients isolating and being treated in homes “where there have already been cases.”
Newsom said there are hundreds of test results still pending for Hopkins County, including those tests conducted at a local nursing homes and from one business thought to have had over 100 tested through private testing. He said it’s also not clear if all of the results from the testing conducted May 15 at the Civic Center are back yet.
Emergency officials remind community members to continue practicing social distance when possible and to follow other recommended health safety guidelines established by the CDC and Texas Department of State Health Services.
Bitter Weed Is Toxic To Cattle, Goats
As we move into our hot summer weather, several weeds that bloom with a yellow flower start to die off. During the spring, bitter weed, a common toxic plant for cattle and goats, has the tendency to cover pastureland. If left unattended, bitter weed has the tendency to cover complete paddocks.
The real problem with bitter weed is that from time to time it can be confused with other weeds that also have yellow blooms including dandelions and buttercups. Many people also use those names interchangeably depending of the region and years into farming.
As with many other toxic plants, bitter weed becomes more toxic after stress, releasing the toxic compounds into the animals that ingest it. Recently, a pigmy goat rancher lost several animals due to yellow bloom plant toxicity in Miller Grove.
Because these plants are usually present for a long period of time and might look like grass before blooming, their numbers tent to creep up fast by the time you have noticed them.
The majority of these plants are not hard to kill, IF those are controlled when the weeds are young (or in rosette stage for dandelions) with a general herbicide. At times, a combination of products, including a root killing compound, can be beneficial if weeds have grown.
For more information on this or any agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-8853443.
Different Types of Aid Available to Paris Junior College Students
Summer I scholarship deadline approaches
While remote registration for summer and fall 2020 classes continue at Paris Junior College, students have several financial aid options available, from regular sources and special assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduating high school students are eligible for a scholarship covering tuition for one Summer I or Summer II class. Those wishing to take a Summer I class must apply by this Friday, May 29; those classes start June 1. Find more information and the online scholarship application at www.parisjc.edu/scholarships.
Funding for students has also been received through The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to make emergency grants to students who were moved from face to face to online classes in the spring semester.
Students must be Title IV eligible, meaning they must: be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen; hold a valid Social Security number (SSN); have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent such as a GED diploma or a high school curriculum in a homeschool setting that satisfies Texas requirements for homeschooling; be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment as a student at PJC. Full-time spring semester students may receive $500 and part-time students $250 grants.
Awards will be made for students enrolled in the summer and fall of a yet to be determined amount.
PJC has also set aside $200,000 for emergency grants to students. To be considered for an emergency grant, a student must fill out an online form on computer, phone or tablet at https://parisjc.wufoo.com/forms/pjc-cares-act-emergency-grant-application/. The grant may be up to $500 and can cover such items as rent, utilities, food, technology and child care.
“We want our students – and prospective students – to know that PJC wishes to help them reach their educational goals,” said PJC President Pam Anglin, “all they have to do is ask for help.”
While the college is still operating remotely, all student services are available by phone or email. New students should go to www.parisjc.edu, then select MyPJC and complete the admissions application; those with questions should contact [email protected] or call 903-782-0425. Returning students may go to MyPJC, log in to their account, and register for classes; for questions email [email protected]. Additional contact information and links are available at www.parisjc.edu/covid-19.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Hopkins County At 20 Cases Of COVID-19, Including 3 New Cases
Some Of New Cases Reported May 26 Are In Homes Where There have Already Been Cases
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported 3 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, putting the total for Hopkins County at 20 cases of COVID-19 since midMarch in Hopkins County. Of the 20 patients, 6 individuals have recovered, and the rest are still being treated for coronavirus.
“To my knowledge, they are at home. Some are in homes where there have already been cases. They are at home being treated in isolation,” Newsom said.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley again, when asked, explained that no additional information such as patient demographics are given out, per Texas Department of State Health Services. Other counties may be given information to disseminate, but do so through their health department doctors and nurses.
“Our rep at DSHS has advised us to keep it at what we are giving you,” Ensley said. “We are going with DSHS. We are too small a community. People would figure it out, if we gave it out,” Endsley said.
The emergency management officials are given an address, which is passed to the 911 call centers, Endsley explained. However, that information remains confidential even to emergency officials, unless emergency responders are dispatched to call at that location, in the dispatch system.
“It’s hidden from dispatchers even, unless they have call there. Then, it will be revealed in notes at that location. At that time, we would take appropriate measures,” Endsley said, including notifying the fire department or other emergency responder so the individual can take adequate action prior to approaching the residence. “Dispatchers cannot even see that information until then.”
Newsom reports a nurse has already been attending some of the patients and will be attending to others shortly. The nurse confirms the individuals are being treated at home, the judge reported.
Officials have yet to receive any information regarding results from either the mobile test collection at the Civic Center on May 15 or testing conducted last week at local nursing homes.
“Numbers for nursing homes, like mobile testing, we don’t really know. Hopefully, Brent can give us more information in the next couple of days. I do know testing was successfully completed at nursing homes 3 days ahead of the deadline of when they were due,” Endsley said.
Newsom said the testing information comes from Hopkins County Hospital District COO/EMS Director Brent Smith. As of his last testing report on May 22, 509 tests had been conducted for Hopkins County residents. They hope to receive numbers in the next couple of days regarding testing.
Endsley noted that Smith is part of a regional task force, which has been working with the National Guard to administer tests across Region 4/5. This is on top of his regular duties as director over EMS for Hopkins, Franklin, Delta and Rains counties.
“He is a busy guy. He has to take time to get the numbers out. It takes a little time, having time to do it. It’s a lot,” Endsley said.
Emergency officials remind community members to continue practicing social distance when possible and to follow other recommended health safety guidelines established by the CDC and Texas Department of State Health Services.
Hospital Week Awards Announced
Blood Drive Scheduled June 5
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, May 26, 2020 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
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.
3-D Mammography: Now Scheduling
We are excited to announce the soft opening of our Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. Using our new Hologic Genius 3D Mammography with biopsy equipment purchased with funds raised by the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, we are now performing 3-D mammograms right here in Sulphur Springs.
There are plans to host a grand opening of the new addition very soon. For more information, call 903.439.4325.
Carter BloodCare – Blood Drive
Get a free t-shirt!
Carter BloodCare will be holding a blood drive on Friday, June 5, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs parking lot in the Carter BloodCare bus. Donors must wear facemasks, and will receive a FREE t-shirt. Please make an appointment by going to: https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/115207, or calling Patricia Wilson at 903.438.4380. To honor social distancing, donors should make an appointment.
Environmental Services
When it comes to infection prevention, our Environmental Services Team (EVS) are the first defense. Donnie Lewis, Department Manager for the EVS team at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, does an excellent job leading the 31-member team, who have been consistent in following best practices for infection prevention. While already noted as being one of the cleanest facilities in the region, the EVS team has added extra steps and added every recommended process necessary throughout the COVID-19 crisis. We want to say a very special THANK YOU for their efforts in ensuring our patients and associates safety!
Awards
The SSISD Healthcare Program students were invited to submit projects to help our associates celebrate Hospital Week. We received 28 submissions that were displayed during the week for our associates to vote on their favorite and we awarded the top three selected submissions with a
cash prize. Our winners were:
- First Place ($100): Imani Smith, ED Diorama
- Second Place ($50): Mason Elam, 3D Heart
- Third Place (Tie, each $25): Ashley Rodriguez, Healthcare video & Jayden Askew, Pot and Mason Jar Art
The students who did not win a cash prize received a $5 gift card to Chick Fil-A as a token of our appreciation for participating. We would like to thank all students that entered for taking the time and sharing their talent. We are excited they have chosen the medical field as their career path!
Services
Wound Care
The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is growing and expanding our services to our patients’ right here in Northeast Texas.
Dr. Scott McDearmont, a general surgeon with 25 years’ experience, is seeing patients five days a week for wound healing evaluations in Sulphur Springs. His years of experience in surgery are a valuable asset in treating wounds that are difficult to heal.
“My philosophy of care has always been patient centered. The patient and their family are the most important voices in our medical decision making process. The highest quality and safest care possible is our goal and our promise to our patients,” said McDearmont.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment, HBOT, is a modality that gives several types of wounds a better chance to heal when other more traditional modalities are not successful. Plans are in the works to expand our ability to provide this limb saving treatment to even more patients. In addition, several skin substitute products are available to our patients to help difficult wounds heal.
Diabetic wounds, vascular wounds, traumatic wounds, burns or any other chronic non-healing wound can benefit from the specialized care provided by Dr. McDearmont right here at home in Sulphur Springs. Call 903-438-4670 to schedule an appointment.
Clinics
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care at 1339 South Broadway St. in Sulphur Springs is temporarily closed. Anyone needing to be seen by a physician may walk-in at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care at 105 Medical Plaza, or to schedule, please call 903.885.3181.
If you are showing signs or symptoms of COVID-19, please call our COVID-19 Hotline at 800.458.4559, Option 9, to be screened, and instructed on how to proceed. As always, if it is emergent, present to the Emergency Room or call 9-1-1.
We want to reassure our patients that CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital continue to be a safe place to receive your care, and we encourage you to follow up with your regular healthcare needs. For any reason you cannot come into the clinic, or do not feel comfortable, virtual visits and telephone visits are available. Please contact your provider to discuss all of the many options for accessing care.
Atmos Is Offering Options For Customers Experiencing Financial Hardships
Atmos Energy is offering options to help natural gas customers experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To help those experiencing financial hardship, we have temporarily suspended natural gas disconnections for non-payment and offer payment installment plans. In addition, financial help is available through local assistance agencies,” said Jeff Martinez, Atmos Energy vice president of customer service. “We encourage customers who are struggling to contact us. Making a partial payment will help you avoid building up a large balance that will be harder to pay off later.”
Additional federal assistance funds have been released due to COVID-19 through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), in addition to Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth funds.
Sharing the Warmth is a program that combines customer donations with additional contributions by Atmos Energy. Then, Atmos Energy partners with local agencies to offer program funds to eligible customers.
Atmos Energy also offers installment plans that spread out payments of the total balance over time. During this time, there are no added charges or fees being added, according to Beth Dattomo, manager of public affairs for Atmos Energy Corporation’s Mid-Tex Division.
To set up an installment plan, customers may visit www.atmosenergy.com, then, log into the Atmos Energy Account Center and select the Payment Assistance tab; or call the Atmos Energy customer service team at 888.286.6700 Monday-Friday between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. central daylight time.
Financial assistance is available on a first come, first served basis to eligible residential customers through a local energy assistance agency. To locate an agency, visit atmosenergy.com/assistance or call 211.
Customers needing solutions to keep up with their monthly natural gas expenses are encouraged by Dattomo to contact Atmos Energy’s customer service team at 888.286.6700 or visit the account center at
https://www.atmosenergy.com/accountcenter/logon/login.html.
Contract Approved To House Federal Inmates at Hopkins County Jail
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning approved a temporary contract with the US Marshals Service to house federal inmates at Hopkins County jail.
The contract is for 150 days and would allow up to 30 federal inmates to be housed at the county jail at a rate of $60 a day. During the contract period, a survey will be conducted to see what the actual rate would be if county is offered a full-time contract, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum explained.
Officials have visited the county jail three times to check things out, and meet with Jail Administrator Kenneth Dean and Chief Deputy Tanner Crump.
While the contract is for 150 days, the US Marshals Service “is pretty pleased with our facility.” They anticipate that it will take less than the 150 days for the county to be offered a full-time contract to house federal inmates.
The agreement provides for $20 an hour per guard if additional staff is needed, $20 per hour if the county’s videoconferencing system is used, plus 58-cents per mile if Hopkins County opts to transport inmates for the service as well.
“This would not put us over our cap, which that is what we strive for,” Dean said.
The county currently plans to utilize part-time jail staff to help with the increased jail population, but has a few jail positions open that can be filled as needed.
If the county were to conduct transports of federal inmates, an additional transport officer would likely be needed.
“We can do this first period and see about how it’s going to work out. We’ll use what we’ve got, and we’ll make do with what we have and see,” Tatum said.
If the county opted to transport federal inmates for the Marshal’s service, they’d be transferred to Hopkins County from Sherman, Tyler, Texarkana and Plano, then from Hopkins County to that court system there or to a federal penitentiary. These would be extended holds for federal inmates, not overnight stays as the county sometimes provides for inmate transport services. Most would likely stay months, as they await court dates, according to the sheriff.
“The federal court system works a lot different from the state. When they are picked up they are held until their court dates, a lot time they are not offered bond so they could be here for quite a while,” Tatum said.
“I think this is a really good option for us to house up to 30 inmates for them,” said Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum Tatum said.
When asked by a commissioner whether the federal inmates would be any more violent than those currently in custody in Hopkins County jail, Tatum pointed out that there are currently five individuals in custody who have been accused of murder. He said whatever they bring, the county jail staff is capable of handling
However, Tatum said it’s his understanding that most of the federal inmates sent to Hopkins County will be in for custody on “white collar” charges than those in custody for violent crimes. Although, Tatum said, the county could potentially house some federal inmates in custody on charges for sex offenses.
The federal inmates will not be working as part of the trustee program to go off the property. Per the federal rules, they are not allowed to leave unless being transported for a court proceeding or to a federal penitentiary, according to Dean.
The county is currently housing 13 inmates from Rockwall County until the inmates can be transferred to Texas Department of Criminal Justice. They are anticipated to be housed at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center for a minimum of 1-2 months. Rockwall County pays a rate, per the contact between the two counties, of $50 a head. Hopkins County also has a contract with Hunt County to house inmates as needed.
Dean said housing the inmates would not put the county jail at full capacity.
Housing the federal inmates could generate up to $1,800 a day in revenue for the county, if the maximum of 30 federal inmates were housed at the county jail, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom pointed out.
“This is a great opportunity for us to house federal inmates. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. This just came about,” Tatum said.
The county can begin housing the federal inmates as soon as the contact is approved, Tatum said, noting that it’s nice to see the tables turned. He referred to the years prior to the construction and opening of the new jail, when the aging jail facility was often at or over capacity, and on occasion required Hopkins County inmates to be housed in other counties.
The Commissioners Court unanimously approved the special facility use contract with US Marshals Service to house up to 30 federal inmates a day for the next 150 days.
