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Grayson County Master Gardener Plan Sale on May 2

BJ Kirkpatrick News 05/01/202007/23/2025

Grayson County Master Gardeners | May 1, 2020

The Annual Grayson County Master Gardener spring plant sale will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Located on the grounds of the Grayson County Courthouse in downtown Sherman, Texas, there is plenty of space to maintain social distancing.

So come on down this Saturday from 9 am to noon to plant browse and take home some amazing gems from the collections of our local gardeners. This is an awesome opportunity to purchase plants that grow well in our area. Tomatoes – herbs – annuals – perennials – shrubs – succulents.

Plus there is the added bonus of having Sherman’s Farmers Market just across the street! Hope to see you at the plant sale.

Eisenhower State Park Reopens for Day-Use

TPWD April 20, 2020

Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma is among the Texas State Parks that will begin reopening for day-use only April 20 as part of a broader effort to begin reopening the state of Texas. Per Governor Abbott’s direction, new restrictions in effect include requiring visitors to wear face coverings and maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.

“As we navigate through these challenging times, it is essential that outdoor experiences and opportunities are available for Texas families. We have been diligently working with our partners in local communities across the state to help safeguard our state park visitors, volunteers and staff when they return to Texas State Parks,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). “During the temporary closure, our State Parks team has been cleaning and sanitizing park facilities, addressing routine maintenance projects, and ensuring requisite safety protocols are in place to ensure visitors have the best possible experience.”

Due to limited staffing, weather conditions and continuing construction projects, some state parks will not be open at the current time. At this time, Bonham State Park has not reopened. Park visitors should check the Texas State Parks Alert Map regularly for the latest information about the status of individual parks. The resumption of overnight camping will be announced to the public once a date has been determined.

TPWD recommends visitors continue to adhere to local, state and federal travel restrictions and other guidance for safety and social distancing before traveling. Additionally, visitors are required to pre-purchase and print day-use permits through the Texas State Parks Reservation System before traveling to a park. Day-use reservations can be made online at www.texasstateparks.org or by calling 512-389-8900.

Visitors planning on coming to a state park are encouraged to bring all necessary provisions, such as hand sanitizer and face masks, with them in order to help local businesses have enough goods to properly serve their communities during this time. This will also help park staff have necessary supplies available for all guests during their stay.

Anyone traveling to a Texas State Park should continue to follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) public health recommendations and adhere to strict social distancing and cleanliness standards while in public spaces. Those traveling to parks in rural areas should remember possible limits on available resources and local health care capacities.

Operational changes still in effect at parks include the suspension of all transactions at parks, equipment rentals and in-person interpretive programs. All group-use facilities, visitor and nature centers, headquarters and other enclosed spaces where people congregate will also remain closed.

Texas State Park Passes can now be purchased online through the reservation system or over the phone by calling the Texas State Park Customer Service Line at (512) 389-8900. For guidance troubleshooting issues with the reservation system or using Texas State Park Passes online, visit the reservation help page on the TPWD website.

For the latest information, please check the TPWD website.

Texoma Medical Center Resumes Elective Procedures

BJ Kirkpatrick News 04/20/202007/23/2025

TMC – Denison, TX – April 20, 2020

Texoma Medical Center (TMC) will begin performing elective procedures as of Wednesday, April 22. TMC’s decision to restart elective procedures came after Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement on Friday, April 17, that expanded guidelines related to hospitals in Texas performing medical procedures.

Under the direction of Governor Abbott, hospitals may perform surgical procedures in accordance with the commonly accepted standard of clinical practice, as long as it would not deplete hospital capacity or the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ron Seal, Chief Executive Officer, TMC, said, “Hospital leadership at Texoma Medical Center has been working to acquire an adequate amount of PPE to safely perform elective cases without depleting our supply. Additionally, TMC has the appropriate bed capacity to restart surgical procedures. We want the public to know that we are continuing to take the necessary
precautions to ensure that we are protecting our staff, providers, and patients. Fortunately, TMC has not been impacted by COVID-19 as significantly as other healthcare facilities in communities across the nation.”

All COVID-19 patients being treated at Texoma Medical Center are cared for on a dedicated unit under strict isolation precautions, and in negative pressure rooms.

Patients undergoing elective surgical procedures will have their surgery performed and will recover in patient care areas that are not designated for COVID-19. Any patient admitted to TMC for medical reasons will not be placed in a designated COVID-19 unit. “I want to reassure the community that we have the ability to care for their medical, surgical and emergent needs in the same safe environment that we provided prior to the pandemic,” said Seal.

TMC will continue screenings at all facility entrances, and will keep current visitation guidelines in effect until no longer deemed necessary.

We want to encourage the public to continue to practice hand hygiene, covering your cough and sneeze, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and adhering to social distancing to prevent the spread of disease. Learn more about the coronavirus at https://www.cdc.gov/.

Please follow us on Facebook and visit our website at www.texomamedicalcenter.net to view current visitation guidelines, updated health alerts, and information on Telehealth visits.

About Texoma Medical Center
Texoma Medical Center is a 414-bed acute care facility located in Denison, Texas, serving the healthcare needs of the Texoma region. The hospital offers a comprehensive range of specialty and surgical services. Texoma Medical Center has been rated one of the safest hospitals in the
nation receiving an ‘A’ from the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing the hospital’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safe healthcare. More than 3,500 employee, 400 multi-specialty physicians, and over 100 volunteers are essential in maintaining TMC’s dedication to proving quality healthcare and excellence.