The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, April 25, 1986 Page: 1 of 4
four pages : ill. ; page 24 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
H-*"'
\
Tjjc Hopkins (Couttfa Zcljo
(ABSORBED THE GAZETTE CIRCULATION BY PURCHASE MAY 12, 1928)
SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS, FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1986.
4 PAGES - 25 CENTS PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
Driver at Baylor
B.J. Thomas, owner of a local wrecker
service, inspects the damage to the cab of a
semi tractor-traitor rig that was crushed
when it crashed into the concrete support of
the Jefferym Street overpass on Interstate
30 earfy Wednesday morning. The trailer
was ripped open and its contents scattered
on the highway. DPS Trooper Harlan Pat-
terson said it appeared the driver, Romeo
King, 32, of Carrollton, lost control of the
vehicle as he was attempting to exit from the
eastbound lane. King was treated at Hopkins
County Memorial Hospital for chest and
facial injuries and transferred to Baylor
Medical Center in Dallas in serious con-
dition, according to a local hospital
spokesman.
Staff Photo by Karen Turpen
Community leaders eye
43?
-term civic needs
Teen-age pregnancy, insufficient
health awareness, increased job
opportunities, and agricultural over-
capitalization were targeted as
critical issues facing the county in the
next four years by about 35 com-
munity leaders during a planning
meeting Tuesday to develop long-
range civic programs.
The meeting, sponsored by the
Hopkins County Extension Service,
was designed to identify the up-
coming critical issues in the county
and to' formulate objectives that will
help in resolving the problem areas
The extension service will use the
information in forming long range
programs
The civic planners were divided
into four study groups that resear-
ched specific areas, namely
agriculture and natural resources,
home economics and family con-
cerns, 4-H and youth, and community
development.
Becke Anderson, community
development chairman, said in-
creasing job opportunities and
promoting public safety were two
important areas for the county to
consider
"We would like to see a 911 phone
number (emergency listing;
established in the county ," Anderson
said, adding that the group also
considered Crime Stoppers a ' must"
program.
Erecting signs on all county roads,
and assisting the community in un-
derstanding the necessity of getting
water from the yet-to-be bull
lake were other issues the
pinpointed, Anderson said
The agriculture task group
targeted agricultural over-
by 4-H was considered one of the top
objectives
11846-1986 FUTU^ST0RY
' - A
Rockwell donates to project
Mayor David Baucom, left, accepts a Manager David Tooley, right, looks on as
Rockwell International Flow Control Murray added that the check represents a
Division $5,000 donation for the Heritage two-part donation with Rockwell planning
Square downtown renovation project from another $5,000 donation next year.
James I. Murray, general manager. City -suhphoio by Ann McAdams
County commission receives
quarterly financial report
By MARY GRANT
News Telegram Staff
A quarterly financial report was
unanimously endorsed Monday by
the Hopkins County Commissioners
Court in what the county auditor said
would be the beginning of a regular
report
The balance for the end of the
quarter, March 31, totaled $2.84
million.
Donald Rea, county auditor, said
the report is required by law, adding,
“In the state of Texas, it’s pretty
nujch ignored.”
Commissioner Delbert Tully noted
that the court is not able to check
each item on the report, but must rely
on the computer results and the
calculations of the auditor and county
treasurer.
“I think it’s something we should
have — a quarterly report,” Com-
missioner H.W. Halcomb said.
Rea also noted of the additional
computer information: “As of this
month, we have several more reports
available.” He said commissioners
can double check the information by
reconciling bank statements with
outstanding checks.
In other business the court ap-
proved a petition for a hearing to
consider closing Old Peerless Road
located seven miles north of Loop 301
just off FM Highway 2285. A county
resident, John Lindley, objected to
the road closing because, he said, it
would lower the value of his property
near the road.
County Judge Wayne Scott advised
Lindley to be present for the hearing
that would be scheduled at a later
date to present proof of property
ownership.
""We’re going to have to know
Local church to honor
volunteers from chamber
capitalization and poor financial
management as" the two most
pressing issues that must be com-
bated in the next four years, ac-
corflmg tor extension agent Gordon
Ford^*—J
"Over-capitalization hasn't hit us
as hard here as it has other places,
but it s a problem across America,”
Ford said
The teen-age pregnancy problem,
helping the county's elderly, and
nutrition awareness are critical,
ardas pinpointed by the home
economics committee, according to
chairman Gwen Parker.
Also, leadership skills and a
volunteer attitude need to be en-.
Jcouraged. Parker said.
Wooper. * Youth and 4-H committee chair-
eNremty man Barbara Maberry said making
youth aware of the programs offered
A special presentation to Hopkins
County Chamber of Commerce
volunteers will be the featured part of
the Shannon Oaks Church of Christ
annual Happiness Sunday, April 27,
according to church officials.
The group will honor the committee
members and directors of the
chamber "We want these people and
the community to know that we really
appreciate their unselfish attitude in
working to make Hopkins County a
better place to live. We felt that
Happiness Sunday, which has
become gn annual event that brings
in a large number of visitors from the
community, was an ideal time to
express that appreciation," Jon
Crime Stoppers
OK two rewards
Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County
Crime Stoppers Inc. Tuesday ap-
proved two $200 rewards to in-
formants whose telephone tips led
police to arrest two felony offenders
in separate recent incidents.
The rewards, based on a point
system for the various felony crimes,
- resulted from information on the
whereabouts of a jail escapee and a
kidnapping-rape suspect.
According to figures compiled by
Sgt. Rex Morgan, crime prevention
officer for the Sulphur Springs Police
Department, in the month of March
the local'Crime Stoppers took credit
for seven arrests, paid $100 in
rewards, recovered $3,500 in stolen
property and confiscated $1.925-in
narcotics.
Treasurer G V. Hughes reported an
organization fund balance of $9,278.
Crime Stoppers directors discussed
sending two of their number to an
advanced Crime Stoppers Conference
in I^iredo June 10-13. Grant-money
would allow the two directors to at-
tend at no personal expense for
events related to the conference.
Crime Stoppers is a private, non-
profit organization of local citizens
and businessmen. Crime Stoppers
offers cash rewards for information
leading to the arrest and indictment
of anyone suspected of commiting a
felony crime. Tips may be called in to
885-2020. Callers need not reveal their
identity.
Hazelip, church minister, said.
Following a special “Celebration in
Song” morning worship service at
10:30 a.m., a luncheon will be served
for all members and visitors from
11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The presen-
tation to the chamber volunteers will
be at 1 p.m. and will be followed by
the evening worship service. The
day's activities should conclude by
2:30 p.m., according to officials.
Conducting the worship services
will be Ray Walker.
where the boundaries are,” Scott
said.
The road closing was requested last
month by Perry Connally, who was
told by the court that law requires a
petition requesting a hearing signed
by several property owners. The
petition presented to the court
Monday contained the signature of
eight property owners, Scott said.
The court also agreed to a contract
with the Department of Human
Services for the department to rent
the Hinnant Street office building
owned by the county in return for
repairs to the building’s burned-out
interior. The state agrees to spend
approximately $200,000 in the
remodeling effort with $42,180 per
year applied as part of the rent
payment until the $200,000 is repaid.
The quarterly report also stated:
—$1.73 million, General Fund.
-$32,569, Precinct 1 Road and
Bridge.
—$83,589, Precinct 2 Road and
Bridge.
-$60,612, Precinct 3 Road and
Bridge.
-$103,863, Precinct 4 Road and
Bridge.
—$87,536, Special Road and Bridge.
—$201,240, Adult Probation.
—$2,833, Juvenile Probation.
—$4,142, County Attorney Check
Fund.
—$725, District Attorney Check
Fund.
—$14,120, District Attorney Fund.
—$270,717, Revenue Sharing.
—$2,879, Law Library.
—$123,117, Debt Service.
—$4,197, Civic Center.
—$12,552, Payroll Account.
Psychiatric counselor explains role
By KAREN TURPEN
New$ Telegram StaH
Erwin McCorkle, a new psychiatric
counselor in Sulphur Springs, in-
troduced himself and his wife,
Marilyn, to area social sendees
representatives Tuesday at the
group’s monthly communicative
meeting.
McCorkle officially made his
services as a licensed professional
counselor available to Sulphur
Springs about one month ago.
He and his wife moved here in
August McCorkle said he has spent
the time since completing residency
requirements for a Ed.D. in coun-
seling at East Texas State University
and becoming familigr with the local
conuiiunily. , t ,
He spoke to the social services
group in an effort to inform their
various organizations about his
practice and to offer his services aS a
consultant and as an outlet for
referrals.
After he was introduced as a
psychologist, McCorkle emphasized
that he is a counselor.
“If you already know about
counseling, you don't need to know
more,” he said. “If you doij't.know
about counseling, there's no way I
can tell you about it briefly. '
McCorkle did say there arc three
main types of counseling crisis
counseling, maintenance counseling
and developmental counseling.
He is most interested in the latter,
which he said is targeted to those
people who have chosen a career path
and deals with "keeping their head
straight while they concentrate on
aspects of that career "
It is most interesting to him, he
said, because it is exciting to think
you can bring out potentials of in
dividuals that have not yet been
tapped."
“Counseling is not a hard science,”
he continued. “If any thing, it is an art
struggling to become a science."
McCorkle, originally from
Mississippi, said he moved to Texas
when he was 20 years old and earned
a bachelor’s degree with a double
major in psy chology and business.
He then worked in Dallas and
Terrell in various counseling
capacities before returning to ETSU
to earn a master's degree in
psychology with a minor in coun-
seling.
McCorkle said he ^wanted a
change of scenery “ w hen tie moved to
West Texas to Big Spring where he
worked with an outreach program in
Pecos and Monahans.
He held various other counseling
positions in Big Spring, including
working" in the state hospital with
alcohol and drug abuse patients,
before moving to Temple where he
was pleased to observe some "fresh
approaches” to counseling, McCorkle
said.
Soon after that move, he decided to
round off i his) experiences" by
completing a doctorate degree at
ETSU.
His wife found employment in the
Hopkins County Outreach Clinic as a
social worker, which ultimately
brought the McCorkles to Sulphur-
Springs.
Following his presentation, it was
announced that the Texas Depart-
ment of Health office on Craig Street,
is .in need of a refrigerator to keep
fruit, milk and eggs to be distributed
to expectant women and new ,
mothers
Also, the la,st meeting of the group
before a summer break will be May
27
Tough Medicare rules
limit care for sick,
administrator says
The hospital is always there, ready to offer treatment facilities for the
sick a-nd injured of the community.
Or is it?
"It is disheartening when we see patients we know should be admitted
(to the hospital) but are not," says Glenn Kenley, administrator of
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.
The reason some would-be patients are not hospitalized is tough new
Medicare standards — standards that are changing almost constantly —
Kenley told the Lions Club Tuesday.
The effect of the Medicare program since Oct. 1,1984, has been to cut
down the number of patients admitted to hospitals, Kenley said.
"Policies don't particularly address how long a patient is
hospitalized,” the 23-year veteran administrator at the local hospital
noted, “but rather the necessity of admission.
"Once a month a review board goes through 30 to 100 of our medical
records. Invaribly 10 to 12 payments will be denied under the finding,
admission not necessary.’ When that's determined, the hospital cannot
collect for charges from anyone other than for the deductible coverage.”
Doctors are becoming conscious that the hospital won’t get paid for
many admissions that would have been routine in the past, Kenley
pointed out. So they become careful about putting paiients in the
hospital. It
“This is one reason why many hospitals are running at only about 50
percent of capacity," Kenley said.
But lower patient population does not necessarily mean that services
or personnel can be reduced by hospitals, he added. “The key is that the
federal program requires aggressive treatment.’ That means the
patients who are hospitalized are normally very sick or injured and
require intense levels of care.”
It has not always been so.
Kenley noted that prior to 1966 Texas hospitals provided very good
care to persons of Medicare age. through the Old Age Assistance
Program. But all states weren’t providing such service, he added, and in
1966 the Medicare Act became a reality.
“At first it was also beneficial to hospitals because the program paid
billed charges' after approval. But then tfl(at changed to the payment
only of the ‘cost of rendered service,’ and there were many things they
didn’t consider as service. Still we got by pretty well.
But in 1984, when it appeared the fund was running out of money,
they passed hurry-up legislation in which they lumped some 7,000
diseases and medical procedures into 470 diagnostic related groupings
(DRG) and we,had the ‘Prospective Payment System with DRG."
Kenley noted that now Medicare pays only a set dollar value for each
DRG and if a patient doesn’t respond well and additional treatment is
required beyond a formula level, that additional cost is not covered.
Continued changes since then have squeezed hospitals even more,
Kenley commented, to the point now where cases are reviewed on a
monthly basis and payment may be denied for many of them.
“This is a problem for th^doctors," the administrator noted. “On the
hand they knoiw the hospdal isn’t going to stay above water if many
its are referred for wjjom there is no payment. On the other hand
are liability concepts if they recommend a lower level of treat-
ment, such as in the \ynme pr in a nursing home."
Medical care is a raidly*cqhnging industry, Kenley said.
We are seeing a growth V>f the for-profit’ private hospitals because
they can control admissions And know they will be paid," he noted.
For a public hospital sqeh as Memorial Hospital, the financial
structure raised by the present system is very discouraging, Kenley
added. When the level of admissions for which Medicare payment is
refused by the review board reaches high enough, tax funds must be
utilized to make up the difference
Right now, the administrator said, the hospital tries to limit tax fund
expenditures to the ambulance service and the retirement of the
building debt But some input for the operating fund becomes necessary.
We will be looking at the budget between now and October, but right
now the seven cents (the current tax rate) may not be enough,” the
hospital administrator told the Lions
/
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Keys, Clarke & Hillsamer, Dave. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, April 25, 1986, newspaper, April 25, 1986; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth776901/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.