The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 203, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, February 13, 1998 Page: 4 of 4
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4 — THE HOPKINS COUNTY ECHO, Sulphur Springs, Texas, Friday, February 13,1998
COMMUNITYNews
Reports From Our Area Correspondents
ARBALA
By Cathy Halliburton Halter_
There was a large turnout at the
Arbala Community Center for the
first of four nights of Wildland Fire-
fighting training. The class is being
taught-by members of the Texas For-
est Service. Representatives from
several different fire departments
within the county were on hand.
Arbala Volunteer Fire Department
sponsored the course, which will con-
tinue through next week.
Mildred Hinton and Joann West
attended a birthday party for Gilbert
White this past week. Mr. White grew
up in the Arbala community.
Ailene Durch recently made one of
her regular trips to the VFW to play
bingo. Ailene said she also attended a
VFW Women's Auxiliary dinner.
Birthday wishes go out to Amanda
Darden.
Don’t forget Kristi’s Kids will meet
this Wednesday at 6 p.m. The chil-
dren will meet at the church.
The Arbala Community Center will
meet at 7 p.m. Monday. Feb. 2?. for a
business meeting and election of offi-
cers. Sorry about the confusion with
the change of date. For more infor-
mation, contact Mike Smith at 485-
2272.
A few noteworthy upcoming events
include the Hopkins County United
Methodist Church Parish Men and
Women will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday,
Feb. 12, at Gaffords Chapel. There
will be a stew and auction at Gaffords
Chapel Community Center on Satur-
day. Feb. 14. Serving of stew begins
at 4:30 p.m. and the auction will
begin at 7 p.m. All proceeds will go
toward medical expenses for Michelle
Champagne and Kyle Lisk.
Pickton United Methodist Church
will host an Ash Wednesday service
at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25.
Don’t forget about the upcoming
fundraiser for Kvle Lisk on Saturday.
Feb. 7.8. Call 485-2383 for more
information.
Arbala Volunteer Fire Department
spent a busy Saturday afternoon fight-
ing a large grass fire. The guys got in
a lot of practice for their Wildland
Firefighting class. Arbala VFD also
made two FMS assists over the last
couple of days.
Members of the Arbala VFD met
for First Responder training this past
Sunday. The department meets
monthly for EMS training. The fire
department meets the second Sunday
of each month at 4:30 p.m. for train-
Happy birthday wishes go out to
my co-workers, Danny Wilburn and
Bill Nixon.
The Arbala VFD 42 Tournament
and Fish Fry will be held Saturday,
March 7. in the Arbala Community
Center. The entry fee for the tourna-
ment is $15 per team. Teams must
provide card tables and dominoes.
Trophies will be awarded for first,
second and third place. Prices for the
fish fry are $8 for adults and $4 for
children 10 and under. The fish fry
will include all the trimmings, such as
cole slaw, beans, hushpuppies and
French fries. All proceeds .from the
fundraiser will go toward ongoing
vehicle maintenance, equipment and
supplies. For more information, call
485-3929 or 485-3984.
Until next week. Think Child Safe-
ty
REILLY SPRINGS
By David and Debbie May
Anyone who has paid attention to
the moon this week has been in for a
treat. And the weather hasn't been too
shabby either.
Everyone in Reilly Springs has
been busy coming and going. Elbe
Swindell was pleased to have Myrna
and Bob Pickard of Fort Worth here
for a visit. They arrived on Friday and
left Sunday after attending church
with Ellie at the Methodist church.
Micky Ledbetter and Luther
McCullogh were enjoying the weath-
er basking in the sun this past week.
Micky also said that Donald Robin-
son, formerly of Reilly Springs, and
currently living in Durant, Okla.,
came down for a visit.
Several ladies from the Reilly
Springs Baptist Church attended a
Women's Conference at East Paris
Baptist Church in Paris this weekend.
The conference, entitled "God Still
Moves." included music by the
Machens and Li/. Higgs and Beth
Moore as speakers. These ladies
included Janie McLarry, LaWanda
Wright. Kay Strong, Wanda Alkire,
Jennifer McLarry, Luvena Owens,
Darrell Johnson, Peggy Smith and
Claudia Whitley. Marcie Owens and
her sister, who was visiting from Vir-
ginia. also attended the conference.
Our prayers are with Charles
Gilbert and his family. Charles suf-
fered a heart attack and was care-
flighted to Baylor Medical Center in
Dallas, where he underwent quadru-
ple bypass surgery. He is on the road
to recovery.
Goddard named HCMH chief
Army veteran to begin work as administrator Monday morning
By LAURIE D. HAYNES
Hopkins County Memorial Hos-
pital has a new administrator and
chief executive officer — Richard
Goddard, a retired Army officer.
Goddard retired from the Army
as a lieutenant colonel in 1995 hav-
ing served 22 years in the Army
Medical Service Corps and held
varied health care administrative
positions.
Most recently he was an assistant
administrator at Parkview Region-
al Hospital in Mexia.
A native of Jacksonville, Ark.,
Goddard graduated high school
there and went on to the University
of Arkansas-Fayetteville, graduat-
ing in 1973 as a Distinguished Mil-
itary Graduate.
In 1986, he earned a master’s
degree in health care administration
at Baylor University.
Goddard plans to start work at
HCMH Monday morning.
“Our goal is to provide the best
possible health care for the com-
munity,” said Goddard. “I want to
work with the community to under-
stand what its needs are. We’d like
to be everything to everyone. It’s
important we as a hospital meet the
needs and even surpass them if we
can.”
He said he found the hospital
board of directors to be very pro-
gressive, but sound in judgmental
decisions.
Goddard said a smooth transition
is essential and that he expects
there to be a learning process at
first as he becomes familiar with
the hospital and its operations.
“This hospital has a long history
and a good record of accomplish-
ment," he said. “The needs of the
community must be the charter by
which this hospital exists. We must
mesh the capabilities of operations,
medical staff and hospital staff and
put it all together very neatly to
provide the best care.
“health care is a dynamic and
A new commander
Richard Goddard was named the new administra-
tor and chief executive officer of Hopkins County
Staff Photo By Marco Antonio Medina Sr.
Memorial Hospital Friday. The board's search com-
mittee had made its decision on Jan. 27.
changing element in society. Good
leadership must be aware of those
changes and integrate them into
planning and operations.”
Goddard and his wife Terry have
two children — a daughter. Dianna,
18. and a son, Robert, 15.
His family will remain in Mexia
until the end of the school year when
his daughter will graduate high
school there.
Dawn Sheffield, the board mem-
ber appointed as head of the search
committee, said the committee
reviewed resumes of about 25 quali-
fied candidates, narrowed the field to
14, then to seven and then to three
before making its unanimous final
decision Jan. 27.
However, the board did not make
its decision public until Friday after-
noon.
The search committee consisted of
members of the community, the
medical staff, the hospital staff and
the board of directors.
- “Neither the board of directors nor
the search committee took lightly
this process leading to the selection
of a CEO to lead our hospital into
the future." said Sheffield. “I thank
the committee for their time and
energy they have devoted to this pro-
cess.”
Goddard replaces Don Magee,
who resigned in December.
City residents enjoy low tax burden
By BRUCE ALSOBROOK
Sulphur Springs continued to main-
tain one of the lowest property tax
burdens in the state in 1995, accord-
ing to a study compiled by the Texas
Taxpayers and Research Association.
Residents in the city of Sulphur
Springs had the 31st lowest tax bur-
den of the 570 cities in the study. The
study compared 570 school districts
in Texas cities with populations of
3,500 people or more. The school tax
rates were combined with those of the
city, county and other governmental
entities affecting residents in each dis-
trict to come up with a tax burden.
The final figures were then adjust-
ed by an "appraisal ratio" that mea-
sures how close appraisal values are
to real market values.
The adjusted tax rate in Sulphur
Springs for the school district, city,
county and hospital was $2.0083 per
$100 of property value. That includes
rates of 30.13 cents for the city,
$1.2773 for Sulphur Springs Inde-
pendent School District. 43.75 cents
for Hopkins County, and 9.37 cents
for Hopkins County Memorial Hospi-
tal. The appraisal ratio was 95.19 per-
cent.
Some Mount Pleasant residents
enjoyed an even lower tax burden
than Sulphur Springs. Those residents
living within the confines of the Harts
Bluff ISD had the 16th lowest rate at
$1.8798. Those living in the Mount
Pleasant ISD, however, faced a tax
burden of $2.1850. the 82nd lowest.
The lowest tax burden of all the
areas studied was Malakoff ISD in
Gun Barrel City at $1.5787, helped in
large part by the lack of a city proper-
ty tax.
The highest tax burden w»as found
in Robstown. where the tax rates
added up to $3.6097, in large part
because the city taxes were $1.0821
more than three times higher than
Sulphur Springs. Thirty-nine other
areas included in the study had com-
bined tax burdens of more than $3.
The study also found that Sulphur
Springs is extremely kind to commer-
cial enterprises.
The tax burden on $100,000 of
commercial property comes to $1,579
according to the study, the second-
lowest of all areas studied Utilities
were ranked 35th in the survey, indus-
trial property 74th. and oil and gas
92nd
The tax on a $100,000 residential
homestead property in Sulphur
Springs was $1,915. which ranked
84th among the 570 areas.
The TTARA study also ranked tax
rates for counties in Texas. Hopkins
County’s rate of 43.52 cents fell clos-
er to the middle of the pack at number
107 out of 254 counties.
Meal-A-Day gets renewed support
By BRUCE ALSOBROOK
Less than one week ago the out-
look for the Meal-A-Day program in
Sulphur Springs was bleak — not
enough volunteers, too little money,
and a lot of people to feed.
All that has changed, and in a big
way.
“Every day this week we’ve had
donations, and I’ve had people call-
ing me wanting to know what they
could do,” Hopkins County Judge
Joe Minter said Thursday morning.
“It’s just been overwhelming. It just
makes your heart sing.”
More important, however, are the
15 new volunteers who have offered
their time to the program, which
feeds more than 100 people every
day in the city.
Help was as plentiful Thursday at
the Senior Citizens Activity Center
where the meals for the program are
prepared five days a week
“Four were here this morning
from 6:30 to 8:30, during the heavy
time.” said Mary Helen Corley,
referring to the hours when workers
peel potatoes, chop onions and mix
the meatloaf.
“Ordinarily we’d have two or
three for the whole day." said her
husband. Bill, who’d just finished
pulling pans of meatloaf from the
ovens.
The outpouring of aid from people
in Hopkins County was stunning,
according to Minter.
It was only six days ago that
Minter outline^ the problems facing
the program, which relies on volun-
teers and donations to buy. cook and
deliver the meals for people who
might otherwise have no food to eat.
There were only 17 volunteers to
do all the work, and the program was
running at a deficit of about $100 a
month
Thursday morning Minter said
enough donations have come in to
cover the deficit for several months,
and he is still getting offers of aid.
"On Monday nothing happened,
and then on Tuesday, everything
happened," he said.
“It was one of the finest hours I’ve
known as county judge. I just want-
ed to sit down and cry.
“The response to this problem is a
good example of a community work-
ing together — all of us working
together.”
Judie Dal/ell has been sick this past
week. Also, Kathy Dickens is back in
the hospital at East Texas Medical
Center. She is undergoing tests for her
leg. Judy Friddle has been released
from the hospital and is home recu-
perating.
Ken and Sandy Wallace have been
busy. Things have been going great at
Plain and Fancy — so great that they
are opening another one in Com-
merce. Congratulations and good luck
to the Wallaces.
SULPHUR BLUFF
By Jimmy Bassham
The Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire
Department’s Fish Fry was attended
by over 2(X) people. The meal, which
consisted of fish with all the trim-
mings and dessert, was very deli-
cious. The support of our very active
fire department was evident by this
huge turnout of people. The guys and
ladies that prepared and served the
meal deserve a lot of credit. The
Dorner boys. Bert and George, are
known for their outstanding ability to
f ry delicious fish and to also consume
it. The brothers are also very photo-
genic. as was illustrated by their pho-
to in Monday's edition of the News-
Telegram.
David, Susan and Casey Swanson
of the Bluff announced the arrival of
a daughter and sister. Sierra Leslie, on
Thursday afternoon, Feb. 5. She
weighed 6 pounds, 3 1/2 ounces.
Proud grandparents are Buddy and
Willa Dean Smith of the Bluff and
Lanoy and Kathy Swanson of Sul-
phur Springs.
Sierra has a host of family mem-
bers with birthdays near her’s. Her
dad. David, celebrated his 25th birth-
day on Monday, Feb. 9. Her sister
Casey was six years old last Wednes-
day. Feb. 4. Her cousin, Chelsey
Smith, daughter of Jeff Smith, will
celebrate her fourth birthday on Mon-
day, Feb. 16. Congratulations to the
Swanson family for this new addition
to the family- Happy birthday wishes
to the Swanson and Smith families.
Valerie Moore and May Moore
attended the Bill Gaither “Homecom-
ing" Gospel Music Concert at the Tar-
rant County Convention Center in
Fort Worth on Saturday. There were
over 13,000 people in attendance. The
girls reported having a great time.
L Roy Emerson is back at home
and reportedly doing better. He was
admitted to the Hopkins County
Memorial Hospital last Friday with
heart problems.
Sybil Deaton is progressing right
along. She discarded her walker last
w eek and gets around the house much
better. She now chases son Benny
around the house with a broom.
Members of the Sulphur Bluff High
School’s Beta Club attended the Beta
Club State Convention in Arlington
on Jan. 23-35. While there, they par-
ticipated in various contests.
Amy Williams, sophomore student,,
placed first in the English contest.
She will advance to the national con-
test in June. Others attending were
seniors Brad Cecil. Shenita Brookins,
SimOn Perales, Aaron Major. Melin-
da Sapien and Jodie Moore; juniors
Brian Wright, Cassie Tubb and Chris
Bassham; and sophomores Tiffany
Alberts, Josh Bellows, Theresa Fos-
ter. Kristina Leisey, Carlos Perales,
Joe Perales, T.G. Sandifeer, Nicole
South, Niki Waid and Amy Williams.
Also attending were sponsors San-
dra Watkins and Billy Emerson, with
chaperones James Morton. Bob
Williams. Janiece Joslin and Mr. and
Mrs. Gary Tubb.
The Beta Club will hold its annual
stew at the community center on Sun-
day, Feb. 22. More details will be giv-
en later.
Cara Fite, wife of Jamie Dale Fite
and daughter of Wade and Jan Bartley
of Dike, received her certificate of
graduation from beauty school this
past December. She is an operator at
the beauty salon in Windsor Plaza.
Congratulations to Cara for this
achievement. A lot of hard work
while caring for a family was
involved.
Darla Joslin was even put to work
at the firemen’s fish fry on Saturday.
She was given the responsibility of
keeping the tea glasses filled. I just
know that her friends, Nona, Virginia
Garrett and Judy Scott would have
loved to see her work for a change.
Please have a nice week and join
me next week for more local news.
TIRA
By Patsy Shaw
As I put this together, 1 want to
thank Oleta Bearden for her help in
gathering news each week.
Delayne Vaughn was home from
College Station this weekend to be
one of the debate contest judges at
North Hopkins on Saturday. Friday
night he and his parents, Chip and Jan
went to see the Panthers basketball
game. Jan said it was a good game
although a heart breaker when they
lost by four points in the last few sec-
onds.
Happy birthday to Larry Fitzgerald
whose birthday was Feb. 9. Dorothy
said last week that son Gregg and
children Austin and Megan came and
took them to Paris to have pictures
made and eat out.
Floyd and Martha Payton made a
trip to Longview to visit her brother,
Lon Honzell on Tuesday and on Fri-
day they went to Baylor to visit
Martha’s sister, Ann Sullivan. While
there, Floyd had his cholesterol
checked and it was a low 129. He
must be sticking to his diet:
Joyce and Jimmy Goldsmith went
to see Hazel Johnson one night and
they played some dominoes while
there. Hazel keeps a table up and
ready in case anyone wants to play.
Tommie Withrow visited Leslie
Wester one day for awhile. When I
talked with Leslie this morning, he
was watching it rain and was glad he
was inside where it was dry.
These visitors attended Tira UMC
Sunday: Andy Weir and his wife Jen-
ny, Ruth Williams and Mr. and Mrs.
Burt Williams.
On our prayer list this week are
Maxine Patterson, Bessie Maude
Goldsmith. Ova Lee Goldsmith and
Ruth Ann Ray.
Our sympathy goes to the Dan
Fortenberry family. Dan was buried
on Monday in Dallas. He was Glenna
Julian's nephew.
Sunday morning, I had the prjvi
lege of attending Faith Baptist Church
in Wichita Falls with Ruth Ann and
her family. This is a very young con- ,
gregation with lots of children and
young adults. I am sure they consid-
ered me aged. Ruth Ann played in the
Bell Choir which had a prominent
part of the worship service. I love bell
choirs and it was heartwarming to see
so many dedicated young folks
expressing their faith together. Ruth
Ann’s chemotherapy treatment wasn't
so bad this time. Only two more to
go. Following the worship service. I
started home to Tira.
Jim Jackson was inadvertently left
off the list of special guests at the
Birthright soup supper mentioned in
last week's news. I apologize for the
omission.
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Keys, Scott & Lamb, Bill. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 203, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, February 13, 1998, newspaper, February 13, 1998; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth780712/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.