Shelby County Today

September 8, 2016 - Alex Korniyenko’s shift as a paramedic in New York City on September 11, 2001, was scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.

“I woke up around eight o’clock and had a cup of coffee. About 8:45, I realized my phone was bombarded with calls. I looked out of the window and saw the smoke coming out of the South Tower,” he said.

He immediately called his supervisor and was told about a major deployment.

“We didn’t know if this was terrorism or a tragic accident. I jumped in my car and drove to the nearest station where I was deployed. As our truck was going through the Battery Tunnel, the South Tower collapsed. Coming out of the Tunnel, we could see nothing but white fog. We could smell hot, melted steel and burning flesh, dirt in the air…you can’t see, you can’t breathe. All the pulverized glass burned your eyes, burned your lungs,” he recalls.

Korniyenko had been on the job only two weeks when the Towers were hit.  He had begun studying to become an emergency medical technician when he was 17, and next became a paramedic. He started his education at a community college, earning an Associate of Science Degree in Emergency Medical Management, and was working on a bachelor’s degree while holding down a full time job as a paramedic for the NYC Fire Department.

“I was brand new and very excited. September 11 was a beautiful, sunny day in New York,” he said. By the end of that day, more than 400 of Korniyenko’s friends and colleagues had lost their lives trying to rescue people from the Twin Towers.

Now a cardiologist with Tyler Cardiology Consultants, Korniyenko serves hospitals and clinics throughout the East Texas Region, including making several visits a month to ETMC-Carthage. He shared his September 11 experiences at the Panola College Lunchbox Lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attack, he will attend a reunion of first responders in New York City.

“It will be part of the process of healing,” he said. “Every day, we need to appreciate firefighters, police officers and other rescue personnel. They do an excellent job, day and night, as they are protecting us.”

He said the only reason he is here today is because his shift did not start until 11:30. If he had been on an earlier shift, he might have been inside the South Tower when it fell.

“Nobody thought the building could collapse. When triage happens, when you take the injured to be treated, we had it set up by the building. Firefighters went into the building with no fear that the building could collapse,” he said.

“When the South Tower collapsed, that’s when we realized the extent of this well-planned terrorist attack.”

At that point, the rescue operation changed, and workers started pulling people farther back away from the buildings.

“The planes had so much diesel, so much burning fuel, that the buildings collapsed like dominoes, floor by floor. It wasn’t something anyone would expect or could have predicted. After the second building collapsed, the rescue changed. We knew there would not be that many people who could be rescued. Because of all the hot metal, all the fumes, all the gases, the temperature of what was under the buildings was thousands of degrees. If it was able to melt the buildings, you can only imagine what would have happened to the people underneath,” he said.

Korniyenko said the rescue teams never gave up hope. Throughout the remainder of September and October, rescue crews were on the scene with dogs and trucks, hoping against hope to find survivors.

“At that point, deep inside, we knew that whoever was going to come out had come out, and whoever was left behind, probably was not coming out. But we never gave up hope,” he said.

Korniyenko said we will always remember the 2,500 people who went to work that day and never came home.

“I don’t have much to say, or maybe I have blocked out some of the details. Some of it should not be told. I hope you can understand what we went through that day. I want you to pray on September 11 for all the people who were lost, because unity is what makes us stronger,” he said.

September 7, 2016 - The Shelby College Center LVN Program is now accepting applications through October 1, 2016 for the classes starting in January 2017.  You may pick up an application at the Shelby College Center located at 3600 Loop 500 East Center, Texas 75935 or at the Carthage Campus in the Health and Natural Science building Nursing Department at 1119 W. Panola Carthage, Texas 75633.  For more information please contact:  Rachel Paddie 936-598-9543 ex: 6006 or Brandi Holloway: 903-694-4026  Applic ation requirements can be found on the Panola College website at www.panola.edu.

August 31, 2016 - Panola College Drama presents Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play by Lauren Wilson as its annual dinner theatre/dessert matinee on Friday, September 16, Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18.  This hilarious spoof of the classic Stevenson’s novella will keep the audience in stitches as this fast-paced comedy takes the stage and is appropriate for all ages.

Starring in the production are Chris Caudle, Center, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde; Allysa Woods, Carlisle, Ambrosia Jekyll; Braden Wood, Center, Euphonia Jekyll; Caleb Wilson, Leon, Xavier Utterson; Jaramie Martin, Martinsville, Lady Throckmortonshire; Isabella Flesher, Carlisle, Calliope/Penelope; Kayla Featherston, Chandler, Ivy; Sarah Funderburk, Carthage, Plodgett; Timothy “Yancy” Flores, Shelbyville, the Constable; Peter Zarate, Hillsboro, the Lieutenant; Tyler Baird, Wortham, Painter; Julian Johnson, Wyatt Windham, and Andrew Lindsey, Shelbyville; Carolers; and Max Fenton, Shelbyville, MC/Chimney Sweep.

Crewing are Nicole Lawhorn, Beckville, Assistant Director; Dallas O’Donnell, Center, Stage Manager; Chris “Dante” Smith, Lighting Design; Tristan Smith, Center, Scene Design; Emily Jolly, Center, Prop Design; Destiney Caskey, Gary and Lacie Sepulvado, Mt. Enterprise, Costume Design; Shannon Henshaw, Carlisle, Make-Up Design, Brandon Castillo, Huntsville, SFX; Erin Anthony, Chireno, Sound and Music; Allen Avendano, Center, House and Box Office Manager.  Scenic Painting was created and produced by Katy Chance.

Prior to the Dinner Theatre production, the Panola Improv Players will present comedy sketches and musical numbers.

The Dinner Theatre is held on Friday and Saturday, with doors opening at 5;30 p.m. and dinner served from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., the show begins at 7:00 p.m. A full meal featuring Italian Cuisine, salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea, and water will be served. The Dessert Matinee is on Sunday, September 18 with doors opening at 1:00 p.m., and a selection of desserts, coffee, tea, and water served from 1:00 p.m. until 1:50 p.m., the show starts at 2 p.m. All performances are in the Studio Theatre, located in the annex of the Q.M. Martin Auditorium on the Panola College campus at 1109 W. Panola, Carthage, TX 75633

Dinner Theatre tickets are $35.00 for Adults; $30.00 for Panola College staff, faculty, and family, students, and senior citizens, and $25.00 for children 12 and under. The Dessert Matinee tickets are $20.00 for adults; $15.00 for Panola College staff, faculty, and family, students, and senior citizens, and $10.00 for children 12 and under.

Reservations are required as seating is limited for this often sold-out event. If one uses the online ticketing service, one may receive $5.00 off every ticket purchased by entering the Promotional code: Online-Ticket when using a credit or debit card to reserve your tickets. To reserve online, go to www.panola.edu –and click on Online Ticket Sales located under Quick Links at the bottom of the web page.  You may also call 903-693-2064 or email: tickets@panola.edu.

Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play is produced by special permission from Dramatists Play Services, Inc.

August 30, 2016 - The Panola College Workforce and Continuing Education division is offering CDL training in partnership with Lufkin Truck Driving Academy.  The training program is from September 5– September 30, 2016, and will meet Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Shelby College Center.  The cost of the class is $4,300.00 and pre-registration is required.  For more information, contact the Continuing Education office at 903-693-2067 or email ce@panola.edu.