Year-End Review: 2022 Will See Twister, Infrastructure Plans | News

T.His year, according to a press release, the Paris Regional Medical Center launched a rebranding initiative for the organization. Lifepoint Health, the parent company of PRMC, has launched a new enterprise brand identity to “reflect the company’s caring culture and focus on innovation and growth as a diverse healthcare organization.”

Under this initiative, the hospital will have a new logo and a new name — Community health in Paris.

The rebranding will be underpinned by a “vibrant heart-shaped icon,” according to officials, which will visually unite Lifepoint Health and its facilities. The Paris Regional Hospital has been selected as the flagship hospital for the project and will adopt the new icon earlier this year.

CEO Steve Hyde said in a press release: “This change opens a new chapter in our 111-year history. It demonstrates strength, perseverance, progress, evolution and most of all, our commitment to our community. As our services and capabilities have grown over the years, so has our reach.We are no longer just a medical center: nearly 250,000 primary and secondary service areas and 6 operational offsite clinics and service lines. Together, we are a true community health institution: we are the health of the Paris region.”

Hospital officials stressed in the release that the name and icon changes do not imply operational changes.

“The new name and icon are derived from the same heart icon as the LifePoint Health icon and are rich in symbolism,” the official explained in the release. “The heart represents the hospital’s caring and inclusive culture and its mission to make communities healthier. It represents the heart of the hospital, the more than 850 team members. The large dot at the center of the icon represents the hospital’s commitment to patient-centered care.The icon’s vibrant color spectrum conveys movement, demonstrating the organization’s focus on innovating and shaping the future of healthcare delivery. It means that there is

The hospital has been part of Lifepoint Health since 2018.

“Lifepoint’s continued support of our hospital has enabled us to invest millions in staff and technology to improve the delivery of patient care,” said Hyde. said in a release. “Our recent projects include refurbishing our emergency department, upgrading our current cardiac catheterization laboratory, completely remodeling our labor and delivery unit, and adding the da Vinci Xi surgical robot. Choosing our hospital is another way Lifepoint demonstrates its commitment to the Paris region and the communities we serve.”

According to a press statement, the rebranding comes with a new brand promise: ‘Best care here’. Great things are happening here. Great people serve here. Great care is taken here. Everything starts from the heart. ”

Paris Regional Medical Center is a 154-bed general acute care hospital that has served northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma for 111 years.

City awards sewage contract

As expected, the Paris City Council Won a $62,852,642 Phase 1 contract for the rebuilding of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, added an additional $26,795,000 in revenue bonds, and approved a sewer rate increase to fund costly projects.

When city leaders first approved the renovation of the 60-year-old plant in June 2019, it was initially estimated to cost between $60 million and $70 million, but the latest projections show , which pushed the cost of the project to over $100 million.Hasetsu will be completed in 2026.

“We know this is an unfortunate increase, but we have to do it,” said Portugal’s mayor Paula. made a choice to do what we had to do. Now we have to pay the price for what we had to do more than ten years ago.”

At its Monday night meeting, the council first awarded low bidder Thalle Construction a $65,118,950 contract, then approved a $2,266,308 reduction in a change order proposed by Garver Engineering, reducing the contract to $62,852,642. reduced.

“We already have a very lean design, but the staff and Garver Engineering worked with Thaile to reduce that number as much as possible,” said City Manager Grayson Pass. “This is an important project, so there were few options to bring the price down.”

At a previous meeting, Path emphasized both p’s.Need to complete Hasses for the project.

“I have to stress that Phase 1 is incomplete with Phase 2,” Paz said in mid-October, noting that the most aging part of the plant is the subject of Phase 1 work, but that Phase 2 I explained that the remaining aging elements scheduled should be completed as well. .

To support Phase 1, the council on Monday approved $26,795,000 in water and wastewater system revenue bonds, Series 29, with a 5% interest rate and a 29-year payment schedule, according to finance director Jean Anderson. did. In April 2021, the Council issued his $46 million as Phase 1 Revenue Bonds. Another bond will be issued in 2004 to fund Phase 2 of the project.

With additional bond sales, the council approved the upcoming semi-annual increases. First he will raise by 10.5% in January 2023, followed by another 10.5% in April 2023. Further hikes of 7% in October 2023 and 7.5% in April are planned. 2024.

“Cash flow through October 2024 is sufficient to suspend rate hikes in October 2024 or April 2025 and return to rate hikes of 6.5% in October 2025 and 6.55% in April. 2026,” Anderson said.

According to newspaper records, the 2019 vote to hire Garner Engineering was the second time a professional services contract was presented before city leaders. In a January 2016 split vote, the council voted against the contract, choosing to delay work on the sewage treatment plant until the $45 million water and wastewater project was completed.

In other actions at Monday’s meeting, the council awarded Pridemore Construction an $88,490 contract to rebuild a boat ramp at the southern end of Crook Lake.

“City officials and the Chamber of Commerce are working with the Southern Drag Boat Association, which uses the lake for boat racing each summer, to work with local boat enthusiasts to create alternative ramps to help drag and leisure boat use. and those who use Crook Lake for fishing,” said Deputy Mayor Robert Vine in an agenda memorandum.

Loop 286 Project Receives Funding and TxDOT Approval

This year, funding for the rebuilding of Loop 286 in Paris will come from the official Texas Department of Transportation at a cost of approximately $90 million, with support of $900,000 each from the City of Paris and Lamar County through the efforts of the Sulfur River Regional Mobile Authority. Got approval.

SuRRMA board chairman and local businessman Jay Hodge appeared before the Paris City Council on Monday night, along with the news that long-time SuRRMA board member and city representative Curtis Fendley announced that his term had expired. I have notified the city of my resignation. in January.

“Curtis Fendley has been a representative of the City of Paris since the board’s inception, and has served admirably for many years, but we do not wish to extend his term,” Hodge said. We will work with the city to recommend open positions.”

The council agreed to accept applications and make nominations for the position at its January meeting.

Speaking about the Loop 286 project, Hodge pointed out that both the Lamar County Commissioner’s Court and the Paris City Council each pledged 1% of the $90 million estimate, or $900,000.

“This project was chosen over others because of our community’s financial commitment,” Hodge said. “Our community infrastructure is ready for the future.” Thank you for your commitment to making sure that

As announced earlier this year, plans to improve the northeastern portion of the Loop will include high-speed, non-stop lanes for travelers passing through the area and local traffic and business between Pine Mill Road and Stillhouse Road. A slow and controlled side road for access is required. .

“The project will consist of building a new overpass on North Collegiate, rebuilding the overpass on FM 195, and adding one-way front roads on both sides of the loop,” said Hodge. “This project is projected to improve safety and reduce crashes by up to 65%.”

Tornado hits Lamar County in November. another one in december

After a massive tornado left a 21-mile (21-mile) long trail of destruction across Lamar County and the Red River Valley region on November 4, utility workers, law enforcement, fire department staff, and other emergency responders continued cleanup efforts and damage assessments.

The Twister traveled 21 miles northeast through Hopewell, Caviness and Beaver Creek before hitting the small rural area of ​​Powdery, about 10 miles north of Paris, according to National Weather Service officials.

County officials issued a statement later that evening, saying 50 homes had been destroyed or damaged and 10 people were hospitalized at the Paris Regional Medical Center.

Several local churches have opened their doors to those in need of a place to sleep or eat.

Lamar County Judge Brandon Bell issued an official declaration of the disaster to the county on Friday night, Nov. 4, according to a press release from the county.

“At least 20 people were injured around the county,” the statement said, with heavy rain still falling as of 8:05 p.m. “We have done a lot of damage.” -We will operate in an effective manner to keep Lamar County citizens and travelers safe. ”

The November 4 tornado that hit Lamar County was the first twister to hit the county in November in recorded weather history, according to National Weather Service officials.

Tornado data collection and recording began in 1950, says Bianca Garcia, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Fort Worth.

“Fannin County had one tornado in November, but Lamar County has had no tornadoes,” says Garcia.

The first tornado warning was issued for Lamar County at 3:53 p.m. Friday, Garcia said.

“At 4:18 pm, weather observers confirmed a tornado near Honey Grove,” Garcia explained. “At 4:27 pm, a tornado was confirmed near Sumner. The storm probably hit Powderley soon after.”

After damage was assessed, the tornado was officially rated EF 4.

Just one month after a violent EF4 tornado wiped out parts of Lamar County, a powerful EF-2 Twister made landfall on December 13, destroying a store and several barns, and severely damaging several homes. It caused damage and two people were injured.

The tornado landed near Petty and was tracked by Hopewell, the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office wrote on Twitter.

Quincy Brandt, Lamar County Emergency Management Coordinator, said the damage trajectory was about 9.2 miles.

“The National Weather Service came out today and looked at (the damage) and determined it was an EF-2 with 115 mph winds,” Blount said.

“It started around (FM 38),” said Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass. “There was a trailer manufacturer there, and we damaged that trailer manufacturer’s area. Then (FM 38), I think we got to about (County Road) 2820.”

Cass said two people were injured and one refused medical attention.

Along FM 38 near Maxey, homes and mostly farm-related structures were severely damaged or destroyed.