In rural Texas, ERs are facing a growing mental health crisis
By Liza Kalinina, Texas Community Health News May 7, 2024 For 24/7 mental health support in English or Spanish, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free help line at 800-662-4357. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Across the state, rural hospitals face a shortage of mental health care providers, with over 60% of rural...
Small Acreage Farming by Mario Villarino
Small acreage farming, a cornerstone of modern agriculture, encompasses a diverse array of operations, ranging from backyard gardens to small family farms. Unlike large commercial farms, which cover expansive tracts of land, small acreage farms operate on parcels ranging from a few acres to tens of acres. Despite their smaller scale, these farms play a significant role in meeting the demand for locally grown food and promoting...
What you need to know about Texas’ school safety policies
By Nina Banks, The Texas Tribune April 24, 2024 In response to the deadliest school shooting in Texas, lawmakers have upped legislation concerning gun and school safety. House Bill 3 passed late last year, which created the requirement for an armed security guard to be present on all campuses and also ramped up mental health resources for students. In Texas, the responsibility for establishing the guidelines for public school safety...
Second Cup of Coffee with Friends of SSISD Co Chair Wes Cooper filmed April 19th
April 21, 2024 – Below is the link to the latest episode of A Second Cup of Coffee with John Mark Dempsey. In this segment, from Friday, April 19, 2024, John Mark sat down with “Friends of Sulphur Springs ISD” Co Chairman Wes Cooper. The two discuss Wes Cooper’s family and career, the current conditions of facilities throughout the Sulphur Springs Independent School District, the School Bond election, and more....
Second Cup of Coffee With Guests Dr. Steeber and Lucas Janda Filmed March 19, 2024
March 22, 2024 – Time for a new segment of A Second Cup of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. On this segment, conducted on Tuesday, March 19th, 2024, John Mark visited with Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Dr. Deana Steeber and Sulphur Springs ISD Financial Advisor Lucas Janda. They discussed such topics as the 2024 Sulphur Springs ISD Bond, the upcoming vote, some of the achievements of the Sulphur Springs ISD students, and...
Consumer Alert: Tax Scams Are on The Rise
March 20, 2024 – The IRS recently warned that financial scams are on the rise, especially during tax season. Reduce your risk of becoming a target by staying alert and knowing what to watch for. Spotting the most common tax scams. Scammers may contact you via phone, email, text or social media and then impersonate the IRS to make you think there’s a problem with your tax return. Common scam strategies include: Scam alert...
A Second Cup of Coffee with John Mark Dempsey Feb 27th guest Hope Cain
On the February 27th segment of A Second Cup of Coffee with John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Sulphur Springs Public Library Director Hope Cain. Their conversation covered such topics as the upcoming eclipse, tax returns, Valentine’s Day, and other Sulphur Springs Public Library activities. Check it out! Sulphur Springs Public library Raptors March 13th Sulphur Springs Public library Plant Niche March...
Veterans Breakfast at the Senior Center
February 8, 2024 – The second Thursday of each month, the Senior Center welcomes Veterans for an early morning breakfast. It’s a chance for everyone to chat and catch up. Veterans of all ages are welcome, you don’t have to be a Senior Citizen to attend. The meal is sponsored by local healthcare agencies. Center Director Dawna Prior also makes her special scrambled eggs. Sponsors of the...
Prevent the Spread of Oak Wilt in Texas
February 6, 2024 – AUSTIN, Texas – While winter is the ideal time to prune trees, pruning after recent droughts and freezes may cause more damage than good this year. “Pruning always adds stress to trees because it opens wounds that need to seal, so if a tree is already stressed, it’s best to avoid unnecessary pruning this year,” Demian Gomez, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Forest Health Coordinator. “Especially...
Free Mental Health App Available for A&M-Commerce Students
February 6, 2024 – COMMERCE, TX—Students at Texas A&M University-Commerce now have access to TELUS Health Student Support, a free and confidential mental healthcare app available to the more than 153,000 students in The Texas A&M University System. “At A&M-Commerce, we are committed to eliminating barriers to student success,” said Jayson Douglas, executive director for Student Access and Success. “The TELUS...
