News

Thankfully, most will never experience the trauma of sexual assault. But, for those who do, the trauma often continues beyond the actual assault.
ETMC Gilmer hopes to ease the trauma for sexual assault survivors in Upshur and surrounding counties beginning Feb. 1 when the hospital initiates its sexual assault nurse examiner program.
The SANE program in Gilmer eliminates the need for survivors to travel for miles to be seen by medical professionals specially trained to provide the care and treatment they need and to properly collect evidence needed by law enforcement.
“Over the past several years, we have seen the incidence of sexual assault increase in Upshur, Wood and surrounding counties,” said Jorge Leal, FACHE, administrator at ETMC Gilmer.

The Camp County Sheriff’s Office reports the following activities:
Treaderrion Dewayne Crowder was arrested by the Pittsburg Police Department Jan. 28 for criminal trespassing, assault and family violence and criminal mischief.
Noraima Rodriguez Simpson was arrested by the Constable Jan. 29 for theft by check.
Artis Ray Veasley was arrested by the Camp County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Jan. 29 for motion to revoke.
Bryan Keith Winchester was arrested by the Pittsburg Police Department Jan. 30 for no driver’s license.
Larry Edward Burton was arrested by the Pittsburg Police Department Jan. 30 for criminal trespassing.
Kathy Morris Patricella was arrested by the Pittsburg Police Department Jan. 31 for disorderly conduct.
Mark Steven Baxter was arrested by the Camp County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 31 for three counts of failure to appear.

A number of Upshur County organizations have made donations to ETMC Gilmer’s SANE program in preparation for its launch. Some have provided items that are often collected and kept as evidence, such as undergarments.
Others have provided handmade blankets. The following verse is attached to each blanket:
I can’t be there to hold your hand,
I can’t be there to hug you,
I can’t be there to dry a tear,
But there is one thing I CAN do.
I can sit here in my room at night
And think of you out there.
And make a blanket just for you
With tender loving care.
When you hold this blanket in your arms
And close your eyes real tight,
You can feel the love I tucked inside
When I made this late one night.
So dry your tears and smile a smile
You aren’t alone you see.
You have this special blanket—
You have a part of me.
Pam Braden, author

Pictured above are the boxtop winners for the second grade in Mrs. Truitt’s class.

Pictured above are the boxtop winners for the third grade in Mrs. Cooley’s class.

Pictured above are the boxtop winners for the fourth grade in Mrs. Richardson’s class.

By Jeremy Weber
jweber@campcountynow.com

Mayor Shawn Kennington swears in new Pittsburg Police Officer Josh Worthen at City Hall Friday Morning.

A report recently released by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) identifies several transmission improvements planned for the next five years to address growing needs on the electric grid that serves most of Texas.
According to the 2013 Report on Existing and Potential Electric Constraints and Needs, transmission providers in the ERCOT region expect to complete more than $3.6 billion in projects between 2014 and 2018.
These include additions or upgrades to more than 3,300 miles of transmission lines and other equipment improvements to increase capacity and support reliability.
Improvements identified in the report focus on existing and potential constraints, where limited capacity of transmission infrastructure could create reliability concerns or increase power costs for consumers in the next five years.

Did you know that oral hygiene is tied to your pet’s overall health? Studies show that keeping your pet’s mouth healthy may increase life expectancy by up to two years.
This February is National Pet Dental Health Month, and it’s a great time to get started improving your dog’s oral health. You can prevent or reduce chances of developing oral disease by beginning a hygiene regimen from an early age.
“It’s important to start good oral hygiene as early as possible,” says Bob Scharf, president of Sergeant’s Pet Care Products. “According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs show symptoms of oral disease by the age of three. However, it’s never too late to take better care of your dog’s teeth.”
A few easy steps can help you get started.
Keep an eye out for bad breath and unusual or excessive drooling and pawing at the mouth, as they can be signs of dental problems.